Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Mthoko gets a tattoo

Quite a few years ago I decided I wanted a tattoo. Being the compulsive person that I am (not), I decided that if, in a year, I still wanted a tattoo, I would get one. A year past, and I still wanted a tattoo. But I didn't know what to get. I still don't, so I still don't have a tattoo.  Mthoko, on the other hand, has been working on his design for the past year. He has two he's been thinking about - but decided during this trip to get his first done. It's a word in Zulu - siyaqhubeka - roughly translated it means "we continue on." Why he has chosen this is his story to tell. Since he can get it done for half the price he would pay in London, here - he decided to get his ink done in the mid-west!  

I was brought along for documentation, artistic consult and moral support. We took many, many pictures - here are some of my favorite.

This is my life of late - a purse Mthoko brought me from Hong Kong, and my ever faithful crutches

the mark up the artist did

signing his life away

where the action happens

preparing the area - they put a fake tattoo on first and then tattoo over it

Fake tattoo is in place

another of the fake - we can tell it will look great!

wearing Mthoko's glasses and hat (and looking like a giraffe)





The first dot is filled in....



finished product!
All done! Looking great!

4 comments:

mthokozisi said...

i love it:)

well done photographer:)

leslie said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
leslie said...

What a very nice tattoo!... Siyaqhubeka - means "we continue on." You had a great decision on selecting that word...

mthokozisi said...

Leslie,
Thank you...it was very fiting!:)

Open skies..