TW for domestic violence, sexual violence“Brazilian tattoo artist Flavia Carvalho is an expert at a
TW for domestic violence, sexual violence“Brazilian tattoo artist Flavia Carvalho is an expert at a very specific kind of tattoo: for the past two years, Carvalho has been covering the scars of domestic and sexual violence survivors with exquisite artwork – free of charge. Through her “A Pele da Flor” (Skin of the Flower) project, Carvalho uses tattoos as “an instrument for empowerment and a self-esteem booster" by transforming the marks on women’s bodies from signs of abuse into a source of inspiration and healing. Carvalho says the initial idea for the project emerged after she was approached by a client who wanted to cover a scar on her stomach. “She told me that she was at a nightclub, and when she turned down a man who approached her, he stabbed her with a switchblade,” Carvalho remembers. “When she saw the finished tattoo, she was extremely moved, and that deeply touched me.” She decided to start donating her time to help more women, principally the survivors of scarring abuse. The choice of project name was an easy one: Carvalho says it “refers to the Portuguese expression ‘A flor da pele’ (deeper than skin), which speaks of how strongly we feel when facing an extremely difficult or challenging situation,” as well as to the idea of beautifying the skin.It is wonderful to see how their relationship with their bodies changes after they get the tattoos.” Carvalho stays in touch with many of the women, who come both from within Brazil and abroad, and says, “I see how, after being ashamed of their scarred bodies, they now post pictures in dresses, and they look happy, changed. It is transformative.“Carvalho hopes that news of the “A Pele da Flor” project will encourage more tattoo artists to donate their time and talent to help survivors and, most importantly, bring much needed attention to the epidemic of violence against women. [My project] is a grain of sand; the world is full of things that need to be addressed. We have a long way to go regarding protecting women against violence.”To read Flavia Carvalho’s interview with HuffPost, and see examples of her tattoos, visit http://huff.to/1ifwVxT – you can also check out more of her work on her business Facebook page at Flavia Carvalho - Daedra Art & Tattoo”As seen on A Mighty Girl’s Facebook page -- source link
#domestic violence#gender violence#domestic abuse#flavia carvalho#brazilian women#vaw#feminism#feminist#global feminism#international feminism