Within this short blog post i will discuss a thought that i have been chewing on for some time now: Responsibility of the craftsperson/ practitioner to their recipient.
Over the course of time i have been working as a "tattooist" , "craftsperson" , "salesman", "business person" "artist", "carver" , etc... , there has been a consistent and ever perplexing evolution of my understanding of what it is that i pursue both for my benefit, and for the benefit of those who i am fortunate enough to work with.
From the initial point of endeavor, i decided i wanted to be "the best" tattooist that ever lived.
The innocence of a young teenager, eager to succeed, to this day resonating within the exterior of a much older person.
The naivety of the same young teenager never able to be entirely shed.
yet perhaps this youthful stupidity is required in order to achieve anything great, for the pessimism of the experienced may castrate the creative force before it is ever able to express itself otherwise.
Looking back, and looking foreword, eventually i will have to look sideways and assess the attitudes of other practitioners in this craft, and though i regret the feeling of needing to do so, perhaps it is that same youthful naivety that will encourage me to express my feelings on this matter.
There would appear to be an abundance of people within the craft of tattooing that are in a word: misguided.
Considering that art, and craft are expressions of the soul of a society, i cannot entirely place the blame for this misguided nature on individuals, we all deal with some degree of this reality being embedded into our substance regardless to our consent.
With that being said, conditions pertaining to these things will not improve without individuals deciding that they will attempt to achieve something more. If you are fortunate enough to be placed in a vantage point where you can clearly see a few of the missteps of your community, it may be uncomfortable, but it is a noble duty to attempt to mitigate this situation through a small degree of critique and hopefully, insightful distribution of experienced opinion.
Underpinning this country as it exists today , there appears to be a malaise of apathy. Everywhere people are feeling that their work will not be adequately rewarded. A picture has been painted of an infinite grind, a prison of labor with no exit, particularly for the young.
These conditions have taken their toll, and everyone within this complex civilization is feeling its effects. Some through demoralization, some through denial, some through spite, some through ego... the myriad of consequences is too great to list.
So the question must be asked, are we going to lay down and die? Is this what we will submit ourselves to? This loss of meaning? This eradication of all spiritual value?
This is where my detestation of a certain corruption of attitude within the craft of tattooing has been fermenting.
Within the time tunnel that is the life of a person, we only have one precious thing that is going to be with us for the entire journey. That one thing is of course our "form"
I choose not to use the word body in this context, rather the term "form" here is the representation of the synthesis of both the body and the mind, their relationship and feedback between the two halves.
The Form that we carry throughout our lives is our opportunity to show ownership and respect over the journey that is our mortal experience.
Mortality, being present everywhere, Death.
In a civilization which is ripe with discontent, shall we allow our bodies to become representations of this discontent as well?
Consider the severe disservice one does to their form by the creation of a permanent mark which was not made with the utmost care and consideration as to the impact it will have on the rest of a persons life?
Why is it that we have accepted this disposable attitude towards tattooing as a society?
For us to have this attitude towards the marking of ones exterior is to covertly express this attitude towards the degradation of ones interior.
Why is it that so many people who mark others for a living appear to have such a disposable attitude towards the work that they do? Can we not see the fault in these attitudes?
I believe inherently people desire to have meaning in the markings they acquire. If one is fortunate enough to achieve a position within their community where they are bestowed this sacred responsibility of creating markings, should they not also navigate the selection and consideration of these markings with the utmost care?
The standards which are considered acceptable pertaining to the quality of markings on the human Form are far too low. We know that humanity is capable of producing artworks of outstanding quality, yet on average a person may only view these outstanding works for a brief time in a museum or religious building. That which they see the most: their own Form, is treated often with a sadly disposable nature. I wish deeply for this to change.
The craftsperson, the tattooist, bears a significant degree of responsibility for the development of this issue. We must not accept within ourselves an apathy towards the works that we create. We must with the highest degree of internal vigilance, discipline ourselves to highest degree, both in our craft and in our lifestyles. This pursuit is not a binary "you are making it or you are a failure" , instead it is a constant determination to become better at providing who is choosing you to alter their Form with the most successful work you are capable of creating. One must work to consistently increase their capabilities, or they are failing those who they are servicing, doing a disservice to the spiritual honor of marking the Form. The marking of the Form is a procedure of the highest spiritual impact, practice it with the utmost respect and care, lest you incur the karmic burden of the disregard of peoples lives.
The recipient also bears a degree of responsibility to this issue. My message to the recipient: RESPECT YOURSELF. Your body matters, the work you deserve is work of the highest quality, made by someone who has deep respect for you. The person you select to mark your Form must be someone who you can ensure has proper expertise, consideration, and guidance, to provide you with work which will properly express the synthesis of both your body and your soul. Select a practitioner who will eagerly take the time to provide you with answers rather than attempt to silence your questions. If you are in an environment within which you do not feel you can learn, and be guided in your understanding with reliable care, you have the responsibility to your Form to leave that environment and continue your search until you find a practitioner who matches these requirements. Take your needs seriously, also make sure that you find a practitioner whose opinions you will value. The marking of the Form is a collaborative process, the relationship between the maker and the receiver is a unique and enriching development, ensure that this relationship will be one that provides you with value and community. Through this the work you receive will provide you with contentment and a sense of certainty in your Form for the rest of your beautiful life.
You deserve the best, do your due diligence to ensure you receive it.
Comments