Sunday, September 02, 2012

Ink: Explained Pt I x Peacock

So someone requested on Formspring that I do a post on my ink, gee, those questions never end. Unfortunately I agreed so I'm going to do, but I'm splitting all of the posts up because I have an awfully short attention span.


So I'm going to start off with my sleeve --- the most prominent tattoo I have and the one that usually gets the most questions. 

Who did your sleeve?
Samuel Mudohori. I believe he is currently not with Gimme Love any more, only by appointment.  I've included a link to his Facebook page, if you want to get inked feel free to contact him!

Why peacock?
Sigh, I really hate answering this question. This is the last time I'm going to answer so OPEN YOUR EYES AND READ. THEN STOP ASKING ME. 

The peacock symbolizes integrity: don't ask me why, it just does, and that is something very important to me in my life. Also while growing up in an all-girls Catholic junior high, (CHIJ St. Joseph's Convent), our school motto was Women of Integrity. That meant a lot to me as I struggled through the rebellious phase of puberty, I was hardly a good kid: I'm unafraid to admit I've been busted for a slew of misdemeanors, inclusive of forgery and shoplifting (not proud of it, and don't do it kids, it's not fun sitting in lock-up) and I wanted to constantly remind myself of my lack of integrity in my younger days.

It also symbolizes truthfulness and a clean character - something which I still try to achieve. I'm ridiculously honest, don't know why either, and as for the clean character... On my way there! One of the beauties of life is its imperfection, because than we have something to perfect, no?

The peacock is also known as the bird of 100 eyes: foresight, ability to see the good in everything and all-seeing witness to hidden transgressions.
I've always known things unwittingly that made "ignorance is a bliss" something I wish I had. I'm not exactly the nicest person around, but I try to see the good in others, just as how my friends have always done so through my worst times: unjudgemental of my past and present actions, but believing that I am good, deep down. I am incredibly grateful for that and I wish to do that to others as well. 

It also represents resurrection: I think it is a known fact that I've struggled with depression for quite a while and I've had a few close brushes with death. 

I chose such fresh colors, deviating slightly from the tradtional blue and green for the tail feathers because I'm optimistic about the fact that even if we are born the same, at the end, we all turn out different. 

The cherry blossoms scattered throughout my arm kind of represents my birthday: 21 March. It basically symbolizes life itself, for cherry blossoms bloom in harsh conditions and climates (that's also what I felt myself to be: someone who becomes better through cruel situations) yet, paradoxically fragile at the same time because the flowers only last a few days and they quickly fall from the tree, landing in the snow: symbolic of how sometimes I could be so strong yet vulnerable at the same time. 

How much did it cost?
I won't reveal the full price because 1) I kinda forgot. It was quite a few years ago. 2) I was given a friendship price, so it's not nice to actually disclose... you know, cannot spoil market leh.

How long did it take you to finish the sleeve?
About a year. Or under a year. I think at least 10x sessions? I'm not too sure

Did it hurt?
YES YOU KNUCKLEHEAD OF COURSE IT FUCKING HURTS. Ask this question one more time and I sincerely hope you never reproduce. Pfff

Why did you choose to do such a big piece? Why not something small and subtle?
1) GO BIG OR GO HOME.
2) The significance of this tattoo is HUGE to me. Which is why it's so huge.

How did your family react? 
Elder brother: WOW SO BIG AH. Aiyo mama's going to kill you say real one
Mom: "£$"$%$£^&*@ (insert various other Chinese vulgarities) HOW ARE YOU EVER GOING TO FIND A JOB/HUSBAND?
Grandma: Wow, it's very pretty. Your arm is... really colourful. OooOoooOoo.

Exactly! Aren't you afraid you'd be unemployed?
Nope. I'm not exactly working an office job or looking to be a doctor...

But what about all those people staring at you on the streets?
It's a fucking fabulous piece of art, look all you want. I'm used to it by now anyway

Ever regret it?
Nope. 

You are so going to regret it, in 10 years time, or maybe 30, when you're all wrinkled and old.
Are you me? NO. So stop dictating my opinions. Also, they carry a heavy significance for me in my life experiences, so why would I regret it if it means so much to me? It's not like I got a barbed wire tattooed at age 14 for fun/drunk. I thought about this tattoo for almost 3 years, it's not an impulsive decision. 

Aaaaand that's all the FAQ I can think of right now, it's kind of 3 in the morning, so if you have anymore questions you think I will answer without blowing up from the stupidity of it, feel free to hop over to my Formspring. Stay tuned for the next few parts! I'm leaving my job as a bartender so I'll probably have more free time to write... Thank you all for reading. I am going to take a shit now, bye


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