blu Hoffman

Connect What inspired your most recent tattoo?

It’s Been a while since I’ve got one but it would be the garden lizard with its tail popped off on my right hand. It was done by a friend and honestly I got it because it looked cool and I’m here to support my homies. It ended up having a lot weight to me over time in ways I didn’t imagine but I won’t lie to yall I just thought it was fun.

If your ink could speak, what would it say?

In the Philippines it’s believed all you take in the after life is your tattoos. The only way you’ll find your ancestors is from your painted body. Even though not all of mine are traditionally our native designs or have any depth sometimes I feel like they speak the voice of my ancestors. The painted people live in me and I stand today to shout for them. I want people to know I look like them and they will tell anyone who they are through the ink in my skin.

What would you do with the $25,000?

If I had 25,000 I’d pay my debts first, who wouldn’t ya know? It’s not insane just like 5k top. The rest would pay to go to the Philippines. I’d go see my mentor in Siargao who teaches me the spiritual parts of tattooing in my culture. Take time there to learn more and bring it back better to the states and continue a dying legacy. I’d invest it back into my art itself (I recently took on murals full time too) it would really all go to the art one way or another.