Nestled along the coast of Benin, the birthplace of vodoo, we find the city of Ouidah. In this locality, when a boy or girl reaches three years of age, an intricate series of lines are carved into their faces with an iron tool. These markings proclaim them as “humans,” and when they pass away, they will be recognizable in the eyes of their ancestors. These incredible forms of body scarification have been carried out in this part of Africa for centuries. It is a deeply visceral and spiritual rite of passage. Scarmasters can be male or female, and it is a practice passed down from generation to generation. With each line that is carved, they clean the incisions with medicinal plants and ginger.
Human Rights group have unsuccessfully tried to stop this practice, since many times the lack of hygiene and protocols can result in the spread of HIV. Ancient traditions are hard to efface and in an interview, one of the elders declared, “We are not violating the rights of these children; we are simply teaching them their origins and their path in life.”
The idea of tattoos teaching children their origins and destiny can been applied in other, unexpected ways. A visual artist has undertaken the task of making all the children smile through tattoos. Benjamin Lloyd thought it would be a good idea to make temporary tattoos for sick children.
Benjamin began by tattooing adults, but after a fated encounter, he decided that children would benefit more from his artistry and designs. Approximately ten years ago, one of his friends brought along his son during his tattoo session. The boy suffered from a debilitating chronic disease, and on impulse he told his father that he too wanted a design on his arm. The parents were naturally shocked by the request, but they accepted, and using aerography, Benjamin created a temporary tattoo. After admiring the handiwork, the boy was incredibly happy and proud to be sporting a fierce tattoo.
Lloyd uploaded the photograph on Facebook to gauge the reaction of the public, saying that if he got at least 50 likes, he would go to Auckland’s Starship Children’s Hospital and tattoo all the children there. He didn’t get the 50 likes, as he expected, but over 450,000. From this point forward, he has tattooed several children who want to feel the rush of getting ink on their bodies. Benjamin has brought hundreds of smiles to these little ones, and with each intricate design we see the wild, rebellious spirit in each child resurface. They love to dress and pose like a rough motorcyclist or a die-hard rock artist.
Benjamin Lloyd shows incredible amounts of empathy for children that are leading a complicated life. While some may shake their heads and believe that tattooing the children in such a way is an evil action, we believe it is just the opposite. He brings new light into a world that has been filled with too much by the pain and sadness of sickness.
If you also find strength through tattoos and you know your body is the best canvas out there, we suggest you see the following:
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30 Hamsa Tattoos to Enlighten Your Soul
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10 Secrets Your Tattoo Artist Will Never Reveal
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Minimalistic Tattoos That Have Great and Powerful Meanings
