Grief Tattoos
Gary Kane @BizOfKane
November 11th, 2014
Gary Kane @BizOfKane
November 11th, 2014
The idea
of creating an image to permanently capture a feeling- to instigate a response
even - was how we communicated well before words were words. Not much has changed in the digital age. We still treasure favorite photographes, frame beloved concert
posters and solidify our memories through more intimate canvases such as
tattooed art.
Tattoos are not necessarily positive or negative and with the countless shades of ink come countless shades of meaning. Some may denote progress in one’s personal journey toward a future of their design. Others prefer an image challenging an internalized feeling of discontent. This permanent designation of self can be empowering and potentially rewarding. It can also provide deeper character insight into their living hosts from an outsider's perspective.
Attitudes toward tattoo art have evolved beyond gang icons and counter-culture bad boy/girl fashion to more common identity elements that capture personal evolutions or a snapshot of time. There is amazing tattoo art on everyday people and with every piece- big or small- a unique story to tell. Having a growing collection myself, I appreciate when others appreciate the art and aren't afraid to ask about it. It constantly challenges perceptions and realities.
One such reality is using skin art to overcome grief and heal from a loss- a permanent memory to carry close. Here are a few examples.
Tattoos are not necessarily positive or negative and with the countless shades of ink come countless shades of meaning. Some may denote progress in one’s personal journey toward a future of their design. Others prefer an image challenging an internalized feeling of discontent. This permanent designation of self can be empowering and potentially rewarding. It can also provide deeper character insight into their living hosts from an outsider's perspective.
Attitudes toward tattoo art have evolved beyond gang icons and counter-culture bad boy/girl fashion to more common identity elements that capture personal evolutions or a snapshot of time. There is amazing tattoo art on everyday people and with every piece- big or small- a unique story to tell. Having a growing collection myself, I appreciate when others appreciate the art and aren't afraid to ask about it. It constantly challenges perceptions and realities.
One such reality is using skin art to overcome grief and heal from a loss- a permanent memory to carry close. Here are a few examples.
The Lost Dog
“B” ended a rough marriage with a substance abuse partner and was suddenly thrust into a big city alone and facing an uncertain future. Then she met a sweet dark brown and white pit bull named Sid who, for over a decade, gave her the companionship and security she needed regardless of other relationships that came and went.
A year ago she lost her faithful companion Sid shortly after his thirteenth birthday. At the end of a long grieving period, she found some solace in getting a tattoo of his name as a small reminder of him every day.
A Key to the Past
"G" was inspired to get this tattoo after losing his great uncle- a fixture of extraordinary perseverance and wisdom that died in his late 80's. He was part of a different generation- the greatest one- that had fought wars and suffered depression and lived long enough to remind the future generations of the sacrifices made that they take for granted. From being sent to beaches in France for WW2 to finding his way back to Brooklyn in order to hustle his way into a non-college educated livelihood, there were stories of aplenty.
The key itself is a master skeleton key, of classic design, which could open any door. "G" found the key in his great uncle’s possessions after his passing and created a tattoo out of it to remind himself of the hope in sacrifices made and the drive to open new doors.
The Hand of Fate
"A" suffered a miscarriage in her twenties that became a pivotal experience in her life. For many of us in healthy and strong relationships, support during those darker periods is assumed and can yield unexpected moments of personal growth and beauty. However, we all have lines and limitations, and the impact of this tragedy crossed beyond one such line, ultimately dissolving her relationship. Her hope for a joyful family and stable domestic partnership melted away into the reality of a much more open and boundless future. That almost never was. We are where we are; the here is now, and there is happiness in that truth even if we sometimes think about the roads taken away from us.
This small image of a child's hand tucked behind her left ear remains close to her thoughts and inspires her to appreciate the small things. Hard lessons from the past to better understand the potentials fates of the future.
Unfinished Works
"J" was a tattoo artist who died of cancer and left a vibrant impression on his many fans and customers- both physically and emotionally. As a creative force, he took different elements and juxtaposed them into thought-provoking ways that would fit well into a gonzo hallucination dream. The energy and attention he put into his works survived him, and the impact of their stories remain unfinished.
The woman who owned this piece said it spoke to her inner irony and love of big versus small dynamics. "J" sketched it by hand, finding the perfect whimsical image to match her spirit. His spirit remains in this and all of his art.