Gia Flynn’s tat-22s. Photograph by Lauren Hough.
MAE-MAE HAN | CULTURE CO-EDITOR | [email protected]
“Tattoo Tales” is a sequence through which The Butler Collegian speaks with a Butler neighborhood member about their tattoos and the tales behind them.
Gia Flynn, a first-year psychology main, already has eight tattoos — although she acquired her first one only a 12 months in the past. Bitten by the tattoo bug, she plans to get 22 tattoos by the time she turns 22. The quotes, lyrics, flowers and animals that adorn her physique every characterize one thing significant in her life.
THE BUTLER COLLEGIAN: What impressed you to begin getting tattoos?
GIA FLYNN: I acquired my first tattoo in honor of my dad who’d handed, and I used to be like, “Oh, it’ll simply be this one.” After which about three months later, or two months later, I acquired my second one, after which from there, it’s simply been this ongoing course of
TBC: When was that first tattoo?
GF: Arising on a 12 months in the past now. So within the span of a 12 months, I’ve gotten eight tattoos.
TBC: Are you able to record off of the highest of your head all of the tattoos that you’ve got?
GF: Sure, so below my left collarbone is my first one, and it says “you’re cherished” in my dad’s handwriting. My subsequent one is a thigh piece, like thigh-hip type of deal, on my left facet; it has 5 fern leaves in it … After which for my subsequent set, I acquired three of them carried out the identical day, so I’ve yellow tulips on my left ribs. I’ve “select love” on my left forearm, and I’ve my canine on my proper bicep … My subsequent two I acquired in the identical day as effectively over winter break, and people have been “I think about the long run” on my proper forearm, and I’ve “you sunshine you temptress” on my proper ribs. After which my most up-to-date tattoo [was] the butterflies on my proper arm in February.
Images by Lauren Hough.
TBC: What do the yellow tulips characterize for you?
GF: So the thought of the yellow tulips — the which means is similar as a semicolon [tattoo], representing a battle prior to now like melancholy and getting previous suicidal ideation and all of that. I simply couldn’t discover a semicolon design that I cherished, after which I realized concerning the yellow tulip which means, and I used to be like, “That’s what I need subsequent.”
TBC: The place did you get the thought for the “you sunshine you temptress” and the butterflies?
GF: “You sunshine you temptress” is a song lyric in in all probability one among my favourite songs ever; it’s a Harry Types music. And I believe it’s only a stunning lyric, and it’s like a reminder to me — it’s like, I’m, you recognize, sunshine … [the tattoo is] identical to a mirrored image of me, in a way, or I suppose in a means of how I wish to see myself.
After which the butterflies I acquired in symbolization of being 4 years clear of self-harm, and I acquired [them] round my anniversary date, which is why it’s some random weekend in February. And I’ve 5 of them as a result of there’s 5 members of my household — and double which means type of that I completed my fourth 12 months [of being clean], and I’m going into my fifth.
TBC: What’s your favourite tattoo?
GF: I don’t know if I might have one. I believe if I needed to decide, it could in all probability be the define of my canine simply because how enjoyable is that?
TBC: What [and when] was your most up-to-date tattoo?
GF: My most up-to-date tattoo [was] the butterflies on my arm. I’ve 5 of them, however I depend them as one tattoo as a result of I acquired them carried out collectively. That was February, like mid-February.
TBC: Do you might have plans in your subsequent tattoo?
GF: Sure. So I actually love the thought of a backbone tattoo, so I’ve been enjoying round with some completely different concepts about that.
TBC: The place do you get your inspiration from?
GF: All my tattoos have actually shut meanings to me, like beginning out with my dad’s handwriting for my first one. After which it’s actually simply no matter I discover significant, that I like. I’ve one on my leg that has fern leaves in them as a result of my center identify is Fern. [I also have] handwritten messages about issues that I imagine in [and] from those that I like.
TBC: How lengthy often does it take so that you can have the thought of the tattoo till you get it?
GF: That varies. So I had the thought of getting the one with my dad’s handwriting for some time, however actually from April of final 12 months [around the time of getting my first tattoo], I began desirous about my subsequent one, which I acquired carried out ultimately of June, early July, of that very same summer season — so about a number of months.
TBC: How do you’re feeling like your tattoos mirror who you’re?
GF: I believe they’re all actually significant as a result of all of them imply one thing personally to me. I like and admire the folks that may type of simply get no matter they need. I’m simply not that particular person, so each tattoo of mine represents one thing of me or one thing I imagine in or part of my previous or one thing like that.
TBC: [We] realized about you and your tattoos once you did the Instagram takeover for BU Be Well as a student assistant. It looks as if for you, tattoos are like a mirrored image of your wellness. Is that true?
GF: Undoubtedly sure, and simply so many different issues: like a mirrored image of who I’m, what I imagine in, additionally how I wish to view myself and the world, additionally symbolizations of my wellness and the place I’ve got here from and the place I wish to go.
TBC: Any recommendation for individuals who wish to begin getting tattoos?
GF: Your ribs harm. But additionally, if you happen to’re the kind of particular person that may put one thing in your physique completely, and it doesn’t have a private which means, go for it. And if you happen to’re somebody that wants a private which means, that’s completely okay, too.
TBC: Anything you wish to say?
GF: Probably not. I like tattoos — I believe they’re nice, I need so many extra. A standard think about folks not getting tattoos is like, “Oh, how’s it gonna look once you’re older?” and all that. And I’m like, all of you goes to look completely different once you’re older; you would possibly as effectively draw on your self and have it look cool when you can.
