France de Griessen has lived and worked everywhere from New Mexico to Paris. The Belgian-Dutch artist writes and takes photos for tattoo and body mod mags but her main outlet is music. She has a solo EP out called Six Uses For a Heart and the first song I Want To Be You appears on the soundtrack for Bruce LaBruce’s X-rated new film LA Zombie, starring Francois Sagat. France is also working with Detroit-based photographer Sue Rynski on a book project based on Hans Christian Andersen’s The red Shoes, and her own watercolours and drawings which can be seen on her site.

“As for my tattoos, most of them have been done by the amazing Rude (23 Keller Piercing & Tattoo, Paris), others are by (R.I.P) J.B. Jones (Route 66 Fine Line Tattoo, Albuquerque, New-Mexico) and Alexandre (Moko Tattoo). Next time I’m going to Nashville, I’m probably going to do some more because they have great tattoo artists there! I have a skull on my back, a rose on my hand, a music score garter on my left leg, art deco inspired black and white roses on my right leg, red roses and a rosary on my left foot and ankle, more flowers and lucky stars… I’ve loved tattoos since I was a little girl and was always drawn to inked people as I think they indicate a taste for freedom, excentricity, rock’n'roll, and a poetic vision of life (even the “ugly”, badly done tattoos. I love them too). And god knows how much I cherish freedom, excentricity, rock’n'roll and poetry in all things!!!! ;) I think tattoos are very elegant, that it’s a truly lovely thing invented by humanity.” France de Griessen

www.myspace.com/francedegriessen

www.francedegriessen.com