By: Marlisse Cepeda
It is wonderful to see how their relationship with their bodies changes after they get the tattoos."
Domestic violence
not only leaves haunting memories, but also permanent marks. While
surgery may aid in recovery, scars can be inevitable and may never fully
go away. That's what Brazilian tattoo artist Flavia Carvalho
hopes to help with, in her work with domestic violence survivors.
Carvalho
started working with abuse victims in 2013 when a woman sought her help
in covering up a scar that was left after a man stabbed her for
rejecting him at a nightclub. "When she saw the finished tattoo, she was extremely moved, and that deeply touched me," Carvalho told the Huffington Post.
After that, she began a project called A Pele de Flor (The Skin of a Flower), where she provides
free,
meaningful tattoos to domestic violence survivors and
mastectomy patients. Carvalho recently opened up about the project to the
Huffington Post.
The
feedback I have gotten from women who were helped by this project has
been extremely surprising. The sense of affection, sisterhood and
camaraderie is deeper than I ever imagined. They contact me from all
over the country, as well as from abroad. They come to the studio, share
their stories of pain and resilience, and they show me their scars.
Embarrassed, they cry, and hug me. Then we design the tattoo and we
schedule the session. They become excited, optimistic. It is wonderful
to see how their relationship with their bodies changes after they get
the tattoos. I follow many of them on Facebook, and I see how, after
being ashamed of their scarred bodies, they now post pictures in
dresses, and they look happy, changed. It is transformative.
She shares photos of her stunning art, along with the stories of the women, on her
Facebook page. Bravo, Carvalho!
Source: http://www.womansday.com/life/real-women/news/a51841/flavia-carvalho-free-tattoos/o
