Words and Images by: Xenia Sanut 

I never thought I would get tattoos. I’m indecisive and getting something so permanent terrifies me, but I was drawn to tattoos’ boldness — the poeticism of making what is typically invisible about yourself visible.

So, after deciding to take a plunge into this inky pool, I thought I might share what I have collected so far.

Location: The Dark Essence, Richmond (@thedarkessence) Artist: Trin (@trintattoos)

When I was little, there was a flower that my mom placed in my hair on a trip to the Philippines. Whilst I knew I wanted it to be my first tattoo, I couldn’t remember the flower. My mom said that the red hibiscus is common in the Philippines, and it seemed to match the flower I remembered, so I went with it.

It wasn’t until last year that I found the real flower, the golden trumpet, and I thought that my tattoo was now meaningless. But I discovered that there’s an ancient system of magic in the Philippines, where one of the divine figures is known as ‘gumamela celis’, “flower of heaven”. Now my tattoo reminds me to look for glimpses of heaven that exist in our own world.

Location: The Wolves Den, Pakenham (@the.wolves.den) Artist: Georgia (@georgialeantattoo)

Hadestown is my favourite musical and based on the Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice. Not only is it a retelling of the timeless love story, but it’s also an exploration of class and nature, with some of the most expressive lyrics I’ve ever heard.

There is a flower that Orpheus conjures whenever he sings the song that’ll bring the world back into balance. Having it tattooed on my body reminds me to continuously strive to make the world into what it could be, in spite of the way that it is now.

Location: G’Day Ink, Pakenham (@gdayinkpakenham) Artist: Sonuk (@sonukpunkrock)

Since I was a child, I have always loved how a clam could be so unsuspecting on the outside but so beautiful on the inside with its nacre and pearls. The second tattoo is a reminder of the awe I felt when my family and I went whale shark watching in the Philippines. These tattoos let me keep a bit of that childlike wonder and that peaceful feeling I only get when I’m at the beach.

Location: Celebrity Ink Fountain Gate (@celebrityinkfountaingate) Artist: Felipe

My grandmother was a semi-professional ballroom dancer. After her heart condition worsened when she got older, going out dancing became harder. I stayed with her in the U.S. for a month in October 2022 and in March this year she passed away.

I associate the time I spent with her with fall leaves, hence the colour of her dress. Although she was also in the fall of her life at that time, she continued to be grateful to be alive. Now, her attitude towards life is immortalised on my arm.

The way tattoos are shaped to suit the canvas of each person’s body is what makes this art form so beautiful. What you choose is only limited to your imagination. It’s a way of showing the world who you are and what you stand for, so are you ready to write your story in ink?