Tattoo: A word of Polynesian origin which means a permanent mark or design made on the skin by a process of pricking and ingraining an indelible pigment or by raising scars.
Having just got another tattoo myself (my fourth), I know how addictive they can get. I have always got my tattoos when I felt that there was a distinct change in me that I wanted to remember. I got my first one when I was fifteen just after I finished my School C exams. It highlighted a time in my life when I felt I had grown up and was turning into a woman – confident and proud. The butterfly symbol represented my awakening out of my ‘cocoon’ and from there, other tattoos gathered as I grew and learnt more and more. And I will continue to get them and long as I keep growing and learning.
The mark of the tattoo is eternal and one that holds different meanings to different people. So we roamed the streets to find out why some of these people got tattoos.
Jenene, General Manager, 26: I wanted to have an expression of creativity on my body and something that was completely mine.
Spencer, General Manager, 31: I got one on my 21st birthday, one for Glastonbury and one when I was travelling round Thailand. I’m due to get another one for New Zealand.
Adrian Drew, Copywriter, 26: Bonding creation with my roots.
Nick Marquet, Account Manager, 26: Victim of circumstance.
Kimberley Rowell, Student, 21: I got my tattoo of the dragon in Thailand and I got it because I liked the design and it was something to do with my sister.
But if you don’t want to share why you took the step to beautify you body, here are some smart arse answers to the question “Why did you do it?” –
• The body is a temple. Have you ever seen an unadorned temple?
• No reason in particular, I was just bored
• It was part of the initiation
• I’m a victim of fashion
• I got it in prison for asking too many questions
B*
