You can be too rich, as our capitalist world often proves. You can be too thin, like Christian Bale in Machinist. But you can never have too many tattoos! Look at those people hanging around tattoo shops, the way they roll up their sleeves and just seem to have an infinite amount of tattoos in a limited space. I've met a guy with a full body suit – head to toes – who's been working on it for 22 years, and he is still going for sessions. So when I get confronted by people saying ''slow down, or you'll be fully covered in 5 years'', I reply: “I wish”.
Let me start from the beginning. I decided on this particular topic because: My brother and I have always shared a passion for tattoos, as well as many long sessions of designing them; I myself have 14 pieces – so far (some are tiny): and my boyfriend recently got into tattooing, with me his most eager guinea pig.
We started modestly, him and I. The gun that he got from a friend came from an old shoebox and was really more of a tractor – sounded like one too. Nevertheless, we produced a couple of pieces on my skin, which I still adore. Once we acquired a real gun, it was clear he was a natural. It was a matter of time before all my getting semi-naked in public places, showing off to anyone that would look, paid off and people started wanting Sean tattoos. He now needed a way of taking this further, to a point where he could do it pro.
Then the fairy of luck smiled her sexiest smile - Sean was busy airbrushing a portrait at the auto expo when he met a tattoo artist who is seen as a god in my circles. One thing led to another and Sean was offered tuition. We were both overjoyed and I began to design my next piece: an origami crane.
After the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, a little girl lay in hospital dying. The doctors told her to fold origami cranes out of the papers from her medicine. If she folded a million, she would live. They did this to keep her occupied and give her hope. Hope is the greatest healing force. The girl didn't live, but her story inspired many. The origami crane became a symbol of hope and peace, and my personal obsession. If I were the Little Prince, I would have asked the pilot: “make me an origami crane”.
This one is blue because it refers back to a story I remember from when I was little, about people going around the world chasing the blue bird of happiness.
People often tell me to slow down. They point out that tattoos are permanent... but face it – nothing is. Life is a fleeting, beautiful experience, and we make our surroundings as pleasant as possible while we're here. I decorate my body in the same way one decorates any dwellings. I put down meaningful symbolism, trying to capture as much of my journey as possible. This vessel isn't sacred. It is dust. What is important to me is the fleeting thoughts, feelings and ideas dwelling inside it, which I attempt to represent on the outside in small colourful icons.
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