There’s a shared evolution betweentattoosand disabilities.
Ahead, three more people share how their disabilities have influenced their tattoo collections.
After undergoing a leg amputation at 17, Mariah began exploring what it looks like to have a disability.
Tattoos now occupy a large part of her mindset.
It was so wholesome and buttoned up," she tells me.
I’m gonna figure it out.'
Courtesy Mira Mariah
Having that approach to being disabled has really helped me.
As we talk, Mariah motions to one of her tattoos that started it all.
It’s byMars Hobrecker, an excellent tattoo artist who also identifies as being disabled.
Courtesy Mira Mariah
And in getting that piece, I feel like I started my journey of glamorizing disability, Mariah says.
As an artist, Mariah seeks to bring strength to those wanting tattoos of their own.
“I always say, ‘this is a decision you make about your body.’
Courtesy Marlee Matlin
To save up andget a tattoofeels more impactful and celebratory.
It feels like an accomplishment.
It feels empowering.”
Courtesy Marlee Matlin
Mariah also explains the peace she finds when tattooing people with disabilities.
Mariah then shares a beautiful connection that exists between disability and her work.
“I can leave out whole limbs, and no one notices or cares.
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Marlee Matlin
Like Mariah, actorMarlee Matlinvalues the understanding created between artist and client.
“[It’s important to find an artist] who understands [your vision] too.
Who knows where you’re coming from and why you want to do it,” she says.
Courtesy Elizabeth Marks
“My tattoos are representations of parts of my life.”
In regards to its placement behind her ear, “I felt like this is where it belonged.
This is a reminder that I cannot hear, but it’s my identity as adeaf person.”
As a child of deaf adults (CODA), Matlin’s daughter got the same tattoo.
But Matlin says her deafness isn’t everything when it comes to how shechooses her tattoos.
“My mother now lives with Alzheimer’s, and I gifted her a tattoo for her birthday.
It was a sunflower on her back shoulder.
And you know, when you go into atattoo shopand see the wall of designs?
They’re all beautiful.
But at the same time, I don’t find those kinds of things related to me.
I want the tattoo to be extremely personal and unusual at the same time.”
Elizabeth Marks
Paralympic medalistElizabeth Marksuses her tattoos as a means to hold loved ones close.
A combat medic in the U.S. Army, Marks suffered grave injuries while serving.
Although she’s always been very keen on tattoos, she decided on her larger pieces post-injury.
The rest are black and gray.
And [the colored ones] mean the world to me because they center me and help me refocus.
Those help me feel worthy because of my survival guilt.
It’s not me.
It’s more so about my brothers and sisters in the military.”
“It was a flower for another medic that I served with.
Once I started swimming, I added the clasps on the back.
They’re the Paralympic symbol and a water molecule.
It was my healing path.
So I finally decided to write down names and asked my artist for red poppies to represent them.”
I asked Marks if getting tattoos was an active decision to take more control over her body.
“My only intent with tattoos was to carry things that are precious to me.
I already have scars decorating my body.
So why not decorate and celebrate them?
People with disabilities are different because of who they are just like everyone else, disability or not.
A disability is another factor that fits into what makes you, you.
And like with tattoos, you decide what youll make of it.
More on the intersection of disability and beauty:
I Have One Hand.
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