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Read.
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READ.
WRITE.
INK.
Compiled By
Laura Jones
FRAME
PUBLISHING
FRAME
PUBLISHING
‘‘
Introduction
First published in the UK by FRAME Publishing
12 Gate House
Edinburgh
EH3 9JU
Scotland
framepublishing.com
@framepublishing
Copyright © Laura Jones 2014
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a
retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical,
photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without first obtaining the written permission of
the copyright owner.
ISBN: 9781908643522
Photo credits:
Copyright © Sachiko Murakami (front cover)
Copyright © Cate (www.flickr.com/people/cate/) (page ii)
Copyright © Dan Slessor (pages 1, 14)
Copyright © Corey J White (pages 2, 4)
Copyright © Shelley Jackson (page 3)
Copyright © Vicki Jarrett (page 5)
Copyright © Kali (Kris Wlodarski - kalitattoo.com) (pages 6, 7)
Copyright © Tessa Benson (page 9)
Copyright © Mel Strong (page 10)
Copyright © Becci Hutchins (page 11)
Copyright © Raw Bones Photography (rawbonesphotography.com) (page 12)
Copyright © Zenobia Frost (page 13, back cover)
Student number: 2112140
A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies.
The man who never reads lives only one.
- George R. R. Martin
Collectors of literary tattoos are some of the most passionate and
inspirational characters of the international tattoo community. This
I’ve learned to be true through the collation of these photographs
and stories from a variety of gracious volunteers.
From Brideshead Revisited to Paradise Lost, Hamlet to Love
and Rockets, literature in all its forms is inspiring people to
permanently brand words and photographic interpretations into
their skin. At this point, in 2014, tattoos are widely mainstream
and increasingly socially acceptable. There is a valuable discussion
behind the tattoo’s growing popularity but this is not the place for
it. Read. Write. Ink. is instead the celebration of a literary tattoo
sub-culture through the eyes of its participants.
Some get their literary tattoos as sentimental mementos of loved
ones, some conceptualise their favourite book into vivid imagery
and some simply want to wear their literary profession with pride.
Whatever the reasoning, a worldwide community exists unified in
the appreciation of the written word.
Read. Write. Ink. is only a glimpse into a small sample of the
extensive culture but it is hopefully one that will showcase tattoos
to be their own unique brand of art – and maybe, ideally, it will
inspire ideas for your own literary tattoo! If a literary tattoo isn’t
for you then I hope the stories behind the ink are enough to
encourage further exploration into the literature that means so
much to so many.
- Laura Jones
&
1
Skin
is a ‘mortal work of art’ conceived by New
York artist Shelley Jackson in 2003. After writing a 2,095
word story Jackson called for 2,095 volunteers to tattoo
one word of her story on their body in a location and font
of their choice after the words were randomly allocated to
the volunteers.
From her website: ‘The text will be published nowhere
else, and the author will not permit it to be summarized,
quoted, described, set to music, or adapted for film, theatre,
television or any other medium. The full text will be
known only to participants, who may, but need not choose
to establish communication with one another. From this
time on, participants will be known as “words”. They are
not understood as carriers or agents of the texts they bear,
but as its embodiments.’
Melbourne based writer and publisher Corey J. White
is one of Jackson’s ‘words’ and explains the importance of
his Skin project tattoo.
Shelley Jackson’s own
‘Skin’ tattoo
Corey J. White
SKIN
THE
PROJECT
&
2
30 • Melbourne • Writer & Publisher
How did you find out about Shelley Jackson’s Skin project?
I was studying Creative Writing at Griffith University on the Gold Coast when my tutor Inez
Baranay mentioned it in class, probably during the Experimental Fiction course.
Funnily enough, when I showed her the tattoo months later (because corresponding
back and forth with Shelley took some time) Inez seemed somewhat shocked that someone
actually went through with the idea.
What attracted you to the project?
I guess the idea spoke to me on a couple of different levels. At the most basic level, I liked
tattoos and writing and Skin combined both, but I suppose I was also attracted to the
disconnected nature of the project – knowing that for the rest of my life I would be linked
by the tattoo to an author I would never know and hundreds of other words I would likely
never meet.
There are apparently forums out there where others gather, but I feel no need to interact
with them – knowing they’re out there somewhere is enough for me.
&
3
Has the word that Jackson allocated to you developed a special meaning?
A special meaning didn’t need to develop – I instantly took it as a sign. All I want to do is
write and I get the word ‘paper’? It seemed like a good omen at the time. Though, now I’m
not sure if I believe in omens, fate, or anything other than our own ability to make good
decisions and bad.
How have people reacted to your tattoo?
I’ve since had the rest of my forearm tattooed which takes attention away from it, but before
that it was easily the tattoo I got the most questions and comments about. It didn’t take long
before I could explain it all in one quick, bored and breathless spiel.
Other than that, friends that know about my writing were all similarly amazed by the word
I was randomly assigned, and I also had to endure the question ‘is that so you remember to
get the newspaper?’ It wasn’t funny the first time, and I heard it a lot more than once.
Vicki Jarrett
44 • Edinburgh • Novelist (for love), Technical writer (for money)
My tattoo is of a winged heart on my right wrist. I got it shortly after my first novel was published in
September 2012. There are layers of meanings in this design, some relevant to the themes explored
in the book. However, the central idea for me is to do with personal freedom of thought and
expression achieved through writing – that, regardless of physical circumstances, that particular
freedom will always be mine and cannot be removed.
Why did you get the tattoo?
I wanted something permanent to mark finally achieving a long-held ambition – an outward sign of
that inner journey. It also serves as a reminder that I can do it, so bolsters my confidence when faced
with the inevitable self-doubt and self-criticism that, for me, come hand-in-hand with writing.
Will you get another literary tattoo?
I hope to. My second book is a volume of short stories. If/when it’s published, I’ll have my current
tattoo incorporated into a larger bracelet type design. If my writing career continues to go well,
maybe I’ll end up with a full sleeve.
How have people reacted to your tattoo?
&
4
Mostly positively. My partner and kids love it. My folks still haven’t acknowledged its existence.
I think it’s a generational thing.
&
5
rOBIN
CROUCHER
32 • London • Painter
Robin’s Tattoo
I had been considering a tattoo for something like eight years,
as it’s not the kind of decision I would make lightly. About
two or three years ago I started reading Milton’s Paradise Lost
partly out of curiosity and partly seeking inspiration for my
work. Although it took me quite a while to read I remember
being overwhelmed by the imagery within the text. The
description of the battle for heaven and Lucifer’s defeat and
fall into hell in particular really struck a chord with me.
I’m not religious so the ink is in no way a testament to
faith but more as a testament of empathy for the devil and
solidarity in his efforts to strive and fight for more only to
be cast out. I believe that we all, at some point in our lives,
for various reasons, strive for the things we want and often
we fail. We’ve all fallen at some time or another but that in
itself does not and should not be the means by which history
judges us. As the Morning Star himself said:
‘‘
Here at least
We shall be free; th’ Almighty hath not built
Here for his envy, will not drive us hence:
Here we may reign secure, and in my choice
To reign is worth ambition though in Hell:
Better to reign in Hell, than serve in Heaven
- Milton
Having read Paradise Lost I was searching for related
images when I stumbled across Gustave Dore’s illustrations.
After looking into his work I ventured into other texts for
which he had illustrated and found the image that I knew
would be the nucleus for my tattoo. From there it was a case of
taking my narrative, finding a first rate artist and developing
the composition using imagery from both Paradise Lost and
Dante’s Divine Comedy: Inferno.
Dream literary tattoo?
I’m still reading a lot of classic literature at the moment and
I’m developing a real fondness for Greek myths and tragedies
so if I were to get another literary tattoo it would probably be
from that particular genre. I do have a soft spot for Sophocles’
Oedipus Rex but I’m not sure that incest and murder make for
great subject matter. Who knows!
Any more tattoos on the way?
If I get another tattoo it would have to be as considered as this
one. I’m too much of a romantic to have ink for ink’s sake.
I think that any tattoo should be considered thoroughly. I
know I’ll never regret mine because I understand the process
and experiences I had to go through before I could have it.
It means to me that all is not lost whatever distance we fall.
&
6
&
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Tessa Benson
34 • Melbourne • Retail Manager
My
is a quote from Hamlet – Horatio says it at the end of the play. My
grandfather Shan used to say this to my younger brother and I; to him, ‘goodnight
sweet prince’ and to me, ‘may flights of angels’. That’s my memory; of course my dad
and his siblings heard it their whole lives too.
One of the saddest, infuriating, nicest moments with my dad was at my grandfather’s
side when he died, and neither one of us could say it all the way through. It was always
the last thing he would say to us for the evening, and always with such love. After he
died I couldn’t remember a single time he hadn’t said it to us.
My grandfather was a gorgeous man, smart and funny and just a tiny bit scary. He
died just a few months after my 18th birthday, I was living interstate and my brother
called me up one day and said ‘get on a plane now’. I did, and thank goodness. If I’d
missed those days with him, well…
&
8
tattoo
He was a dapper fellow, coloured slacks and buttoned shirts, cravats and a little man bag.
Rather unorthodox in the country town we were all in at that stage. I actually didn’t get the
tattoo until almost ten years after he died, but I’d been thinking about it for several before
that. I wanted a font that recreated a typewriter because my grandfather was a writer who
only ever used a typewriter.
H ow
hav e p e op l e r e act e d t o y o ur tat to o ?
Mostly well. Interestingly my dad doesn’t like tattoos and is always worried for me in terms
of jobs. He was a little horrified when I got this one, but mostly chuffed I think. People
always comment on it, particularly as it’s so visible being on my forearm. Most people react
well, or they say ‘oh that’s sad, why would you want that on your arm?’ but it’s not sad to
me. Not at all. I have another on my other arm, a half sleeve of roses and that gets far more
comments along the lines of ‘what’s all this rubbish’. Of course people like it too, and say so.
I’m just always so baffled at the ones who feel the need to lecture me about it. ‘Lucky it’s not
on your body’ is generally my response.
&
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My tattoo is from the cover of the first collection of Love and Rockets, a comic book
by Gilbert and Jaime Hernandez. The tattoo is of the two main characters Maggie and
Hopey, drawn and written by Jaime. I discovered this series about 4 years ago and
totally fell in love with the characters.
The story starts with the two of them as young, queer punk girls and sees them
grow up into middle age. It’s a fantastic story of an enduring relationship between
two women. I wanted to get a tattoo of Hopey as she is very beautiful but it didn’t
seem right to get one without Maggie as the two should always be together. I picked
this image as it’s one of the more iconic and recognisable pictures of the two of them.
Why did you get the tattoo?
Books have always been the most inspirational things for me so when I was looking
for tattoo inspiration it just seemed natural to turn to them. I have three tattoos
already and will undoubtedly get more. All my tattoos come from either books or
museum objects.
How have people reacted to your tattoo?
&
10
Very positively, a lot of people have said how much they love it, what a great image
it was to select and how it sits perfectly on my arm. I even got a tweet back from the
author of the series saying that he ‘APPROVED!!!’
Becci
Hutchins
26 • Oxfordshire • Librarian
My tattoo is the title of Book One of Brideshead
Revisited by Evelyn Waugh. I first encountered
Brideshead when I was around 12, spending
long summer holidays at my parents’ house
in France. They had the fantastic 11 episode
Granada Television adaptation on VHS, which
I watched over and over again. I’m not sure why
a long and ponderous 1981 TV series appealed
to a 12 year old, but it did, and it remains my
favourite TV programme now. A few years
later, I studied English at Leicester University
and spent a semester studying Evelyn Waugh
under Martin Stannard, a fantastic lecturer
and foremost Evelyn Waugh specialist. Finally,
I wrote my dissertation on homosexuality in
Brideshead and E.M. Forster’s Maurice.
Until recently I had read the phrase in
the most literal sense - ‘and in Arcadia I am’,
which I think can be related to the themes at
the beginning of Brideshead, when Charles and
Sebastian are in Oxford, happy, and in a funny
sort of love, but clearly there is a deeper, more
foreboding reading (‘even in Arcadia, there I
am’) which is relevant to the later plot.
Since finishing my degree I have moved
to Oxford and work in a college very close to
Hertford, where Waugh attended (and failed) university. I feel as if Brideshead and my tattoo were an
unconscious preamble to my later life. I wanted a tattoo for a while, but couldn’t decide on what to
get. After finishing my dissertation, I realised that a Brideshead Revisited tattoo would be the perfect
commemoration of a fantastic three years at university with some amazing people and a long-term
obsession with the book and author.
Dream literary tattoo?
I would like ‘libros lege’ on my arm (Latin for ‘read books’), something from the Narnia books, and something
from Daniel Clowes’ Ghost World. I love tattoos of words, so anything text-related and beautifully done is
impressive to me. I’ve seen a few Dewey Decimal tattoos which I like as they require a bit of
detective work to find out what they mean!
11
&
Zenobia Frost
24 • Brisbane • Poet & Freelance Editor
Why did you get your tattoo?
I had considered a semicolon tattoo for several years
before I actually committed. I had a typography-fancying
friend curate a collection of semicolons in his favourite
fonts; I selected one from the list.
The semicolon was a revolutionary discovery for me as
a young person interested in editing. I like their specific,
mystical power: to simultaneously link and divide
clauses. I think of the tattoo as having branded myself as
an editor, first and foremost.
How have people reacted to your tattoo?
In general, I’ve received positive feedback. The night
before I finally got the tattoo, I freaked out because I
googled ‘semicolon tattoos’ and found out they were
suddenly a fad on wrists (with a reasoning that very loosely interpreted semicolon
usage!). Fortunately, most people have correctly guessed that mine is more related to
my line of work.
Will you get another literary tattoo?
I would, if it was important enough to me. A few months after getting the semicolon,
I went back on a whim and had a symbol from Buffy the Vampire Slayer tattooed
on my left shoulder. I don’t know if that fits into the specific definition of ‘literary’,
but I consider film and TV to be equally important texts. The tattoo is a symbol
Willow used to cast a protective spell over Buffy, but their peers misinterpreted it as a
malevolent symbol and it sparked a witch hunt. It only appears briefly in one episode,
‘Gingerbread’. I grew up in the ‘Buffyverse’ written by Whedon and his teams; even as
an adult, having Willow protecting me is surprisingly empowering.
&
12
&
13
Ackowledgements
Many more people expressed interest in this project than I ever
could have imagined and thanks must be extended to everyone
who eagerly offered to share their tattoos and stories with a stranger
with only an ampersand tattoo for credentials.
Unfortunately, not everyone who volunteered could be included
so extra thanks goes to those who spent their time answering my
questions, taking and submitting photography to an annoyingly
particular specification and putting up with my lengthy emails.
I wish I had the room for them all.
Thank you to Corey, Vicki, Robin, Tessa, Mel, Becci and Zenobia
for letting me pester them and for sharing their hugely different but
equally interesting stories. Each person and every story absolutely
merited its own dedicated space and design so I hope the carefully
considered individual design for each participant is an accurate
representation of the tattoos’ owners and backstories. I do hope I
have done them justice.
&
14
Read. Write. Ink.
is a celebration of the literary tattoo
sub-culture and community that has
grown ferociously in the last few years.
Appreciation of the written word has taken
a dedicated leap with texts such as Hamlet,
Paradise Lost & Love and Rockets inspiring
numerous people to permanently brand
their skin with favourite phrases and
artistic interpretations.
Read. Write. Ink. showcases a sample of this
community with full colour photography and
intimate stories revealing the unique motivations
behind literary tattoos. Some commemorate lost
loved ones whilst some literally wear their literary
profession on their sleeve—all find a certain solace in
their tattoos and this is a phenomenon
worth celebrating.
Laura Jones is a freelance production editor
and literary tattoo owner. (Hopefully a modest
ampersand counts.) When not typesetting and
triple checking spelling she posts reviews and
articles about all things books and publishing
over at publishthings.com.
www.readwriteink.co.uk
www.framepublishing.com
UK £15.99
Student number: 2112140
FRAME
PUBLISHING