The Japanese Yakuza is a transnational
organized crime syndicate, What was it
specifically about their style of tattoos that
attracted you - was it more the aesthetic or
the underlying meaning?
For me, it was both. I wasn’t so much interested
in the crime syndicate part, but I am one who
is fascinated with all lifestyles even if they are
far from my own. The aesthetic intrigued me
in that it was grand and flowed so greatly with
the body and, although I didn’t understand
each and every meaning, I was sure it was
significant to the culture and to themselves as
individuals, so I was on a quest to find mine.
What other influences are displayed on your
body art?
Some of the other influences on my body art
have to do with myself and my beliefs, things
that would not change throughout life. For
example, on my leg I have ‘Never falter, never
fail’ in traditional Tibetan script; on my jawline
I have in Latin, ‘Vita incerta, mors certissima’ or
rather--Life is uncertain, death is most certain’,
meaning to me, you never know what life
brings, so make the most of it while you are
here because, like most things, it will come to
an end. Asian art also played an influence on
my choice of tattoos as well as the style.
47
inspadesmag.com