MURKADO

What motivated you to get tattooed in the first place?

• Knowing that it’s a taboo in some cultures and for older generations made the idea of getting one all the more appealing to me. I think it was the empowerment. To claim your body as your own and to do whatever you want with it regardless of societal norms/expectations.

Do you remember what your first tattoo was?

• I do and it is now covered up. Hah!

How many tattoos do you currently have? Which one was the most recent?

• Currently, I’ve got 13 tattoos, with the butterflies being the most recent.

What have been some of the inspirations behind the tattoos that you have? Do you typically have an idea in mind before reaching out to a tattoo artist?

• Significant people or time in my life.. and also, lessons from this lifetime. Having said that, I do typically have a vision of what I want before reaching out to an artist. 

What type of tattoo styles have you gotten done? What do you like about those styles?

• Black & grey, watercolour, minimalistic. I love how expressive and intimate it can get. I just think it’s cute how humans alchemize a thought and/or emotion — then walk around earth with it as art on their skin.

Do any of your tattoos hold any personal meaning to you that you’d like to share?

• They all have a personal meaning, but none in particular I'd like to share.

What were some of the most painful spots to get tattooed for you?

• MY FOOT.  Ok, story time — While on vacation in Philippines, I decided to let one of our friends tattoo over my foot tattoo. He was just starting out, so I’ll let you imagine how the finished product turned out. A more experienced artist would’ve probably suggested not doing work over the ankle. Unfortunately, that was not the case here. I was a hair strand away from crying the entire time.  Trying to control my breathing like I was doing a yoga class and probably sweating like I was in a hot yoga class. Didn’t shed a tear though. So the moral of the story is: \m/

Has having tattoos had any impact in your personal life?

• You know when you’re the first one to jump in the lake and test the waters on a family trip? Then they all follow afterwards? Safe to say I jumped in first and now everyone in my family has one. Even my papa who would always say, “I went through that age too and never got a tattoo,” every time I got a new piece. He has 3 now, guess he was just waiting on an older age to get one. 

Do you have any favourite tattoos?

• My favourite would have to be the Ganesha.

Who are some of the artists that you've gotten tattooed by?

• I wish I had all their Insta handles, but either they don’t have one or I simply don’t remember it, as most of the tattoos I have are from my late teens/early 20’s. Although the most recent ones I have are by Ryan Seno (@ryantattoo).