Editorial assistant Rosalie Woodward reviews the Identity Issue out now. Purchase your copy here
Peacocks in Afghanistan – Page 18
Photo by Heather Shuker
Tattoo artist Axa Shireen talks to us about growing up between suburban Manchester and dangerously enchanting Afghanistan and how art has always been a driving force, steering her towards new worlds, whether these be tattooing or love. The sense of her own identity comes from not constraining herself with boundaries, but embracing it all…
Her interview is accompanied with stunning images of ornate sarees, intricate henna and a peacock stealing a sneaky glance at beautiful Axa covered in glittering finery.
Laura Jane Grace – Page 57
Photo by Heather Shuker
Our music editor Jen Adamson interviews Laura Jane Grace from Against Me!, formally Tom Gables, about her struggle to show the world who she really is. Laura explains how her song lyrics allowed her to explore and release her inner self, allowing her to cross the lines of socially defined gender boundaries. Laura has many crow tattoos, these important birds have perhaps given her the wings she needed in order to be free…
Tattooing in Prison – Page 34 and New York Prisoner – Page 38
Ever wondered how inmates tattoo each other when tattooing is prohibited in prisons? What do they use for ink? How do they make a machine? The men behind their crimes are revealed in their honest discussion of prison life. In jail, tattoos become even more important, playing the part of a bargaining tool as well as a seemingly simple way to pass the hours. This was one aspect of the prisoners’ lives that the officers could not control and they weren’t going to give up.
Meet the Customers – Page 26
Photo by Heather Shuker
Meet tattooist Dominique Holmes and her customers, in The Royal Albert pub (where we did the photo shoot), why not follow their lead and crack out the vino! Unique relationships are built when people are regularly tattooed by the same artist, way more so than if they had stepped off the street for a bit of flash. Dom and her customers alike explore how tattoos add to their sense of identity and how both their friendships and art have evolved.
To read these articles in full purchase your copy of The Identity Issue here
