Tattoo Theories.

I regard a tattoo as a physical expression and a personal representation of an individual; a form of artwork and poetry.

  My designs tend to be simplistic on the surface, but with a much deeper meaning.

-Zia Origin (upper back)

Based on New Mexico's Zia Sun symbol, the design reflects the wealth of pantheistic spiritualism, teaching the basic harmony of all things in the universe. Four is the sacred number of Zia and the figure is composed of a circle from which the North, South, East and West points radiate. These points personify the number most often used by the Giver of all good gifts.

  The sacred number is embodied in the earth, with its four directions; in the year, with its four seasons; in the day, with the sunrise, noon, evening and night; in life, with it's four divisions -- childhood, youth, manhood and old age. Everything is bound together in a circle of life and love, without beginning, without end. The Zia believe that in this great brotherhood of all things, man has four sacred obligations: He must develop a strong body, a clear mind, a pure spirit and a devotion to the welfare of his people.

(Done at The Bamboo Rooms, Shipley, West Yorkshire.)

-Zibu Symbol for Choosing Life (right hand)

This symbol comes with enormous power to eradicate joy-less living. It brings with it a real knowing of the importance of embracing life fully -- the initial "C" is rooted at the bottom of the design to denote my Mother, for whom I live for.

(Done at Dragon Tattoo Studio, Wakefield, West Yorkshire.)

-Zibu Symbol for Creativity (lower right arm)

As you embrace the symbol for Creativity, know you are a conduit for Divine Expression. Surrender to preconceived ideas and allow something even more grand to emerge.

(Done at West Coast Tattoo Studio, Aberystwyth, Wales.)

-a ma vie de coeur entier (lower right arm)

French for “my whole heart for my whole life”, a statement of absolute love from a woman who can never be replaced -- my Mother -- in remembrance.

(Done at Dragon Tattoo Studio, Wakefield, West Yorkshire.)

-"Power to the People and the Beats" (lower right arm)

My interpretation of the Rise Against Logo.

(Done at Dragon Tattoo Studio, Wakefield, West Yorkshire.)

-eternal (inner right arm)

The word "eternal" represents, physically, an ever-present scar on my body of the mental anguish my ex-partner and I went through when we lost a child.

(Done at Dragon Tattoo Studio, Wakefield, West Yorkshire.)

-Aa (upper right arm)

In relation to the previous tattoo, the calligraphy of the “A” and “a” attempts to create a bond between me and the child that I lost. 

(Done at Dragon Tattoo Studio, Wakefield, West Yorkshire.)

-“judge not but my soul... (right upper arm)

Go beyond prejudice, believe in others.

(Done at Ye Olde Tattoo Shop, Pontefract, West Yorkshire.)

-83-02 (right shoulder)

Since my fascination with poetry began in 2002, I consider myself to have greatly matured intellectually and emotionally as an individual, to the extent of having the confidence in my own abilities.

Prior to that date, I was so content with trying to establish myself as “one of the crowd” and really never recognised my own true qualities until I started writing.

  It is why I believe, metaphorically, that I have been re-incarnated and been given a second chance; hence, the demise of my old persona (Andy Carrington) and the sprout of the versifier (Ataraxia).

(Done at Dragon Tattoo Studio, Wakefield, West Yorkshire.)

-worship not demise (stomach)

Karl Marx summarised religion as the following: “Man makes religion, religion does not make man. Religion is the self-consciousness and self-feeling of man who has either not found himself or has already lost himself again. Truly liberated individuals have no need for religion.”

  Hence, a rather self-deterministic message to the hypocrites belonging to fundamental religion (particularly Christianity).

  I believe religion is a contradiction of its own, whose practices and fascinations are pre-meditated death. Terrorism is almost undoubtedly a conflict of religious beliefs, whereas at the same time the people that apparently share their own system of beliefs have inner divergence from their various misinterpretations.

  The hypocrites that fall to their knees in faith of God every time something appears challenging is lethargic and typical of society not willing to revolutionize itself.

  The satanic cross was used rather sarcastically in conjunction with the words “worship not demise”. Christianity’s fascinations with “the devil” and “hell” are hoax in undermining its own innocence and purity, which then distort humanity.

Although I am not attached to Satanism, I found its perception of reality coherent to the ideology of supernatural worship and optimism of heavenly rewards.

  So in conjunction with the text “worship not demise”, the cross was used ideologically to undermine a Christian’s perspective of evil; while the realist semantics behind the message define what true evil actually is.

(Done at Dragon Tattoo Studio, Wakefield, West Yorkshire.)

-Picasso’s Dove (left chest)

The dove is a symbol of beauty, which represents the expression and endless possibilities of human emotion.

(Done at Dragon Tattoo Studio, Wakefield, West Yorkshire.)

Want to comment on my work? Please use the Testimonials Form.