margaret "QUICA" alarcón

105,000 Tattoos: Iraqi Artist Wafaa Bilal Turns His Own Body into a Canvas to Commemorate Dead Iraqis & Americans

I believe tattoo can represent ceremony and prayer because it involves pain and bloodletting. After 7 years of careful thought and planning, the design for my tattoo emerged in 2001. This piece is a representation of my transformation and sacrifice- to honor the hope and love in my heart and give thanks to the four elements of nature: Wind, Water, Land  and Fire. The design that  is being tattooed in the photographs was a collaboration between myself and Antonio Mejia, a local and well respected tattoo artist. The photographs in the collage were taken by Gina Aparicio during one of my sessions.

Quica's Tattoo  2002                                Photo by Gina Aparicio

"So if these tattoos signify a deeper meaning or a longer reach into those things that are an older knowledge, then I believe that this is one way of opening that door."

"If we understand these things academically, when it goes on physically it reaches deep within to the core of your being. Because when you're going through that pain, you're actually reaching into the core of yourself — how much you can handle and how much particular core that it's actually striking in you. Then I believe it releases these things, these long held back thoughts, dreams, inspirations, about whatever it is that you're really tied into."

"I could give you the theoretics of it, because of the needles piercing the body, and striking at the depth of what it's striking, and the reason that the mind knows that this particular sign is going on for [and so] taps into the genetic code of the DNA molecules that will open up and allow us that avenue into that particular kuleana. Now, this is based upon the fact that if the DNA molecules can give us the blue eyes of our European ancestors, can give us the dark skin of our Hawaiian ancestors, the DNA molecules dictate these characteristics, these features that we have. Then if we can tap into this literally, tap into that particular DNA molecule that says you are the farmer, you are the healer, you are the fisherman, you are the long-distance voyager, then that's how it happens. So if this tattoo or these tattoos signify a deeper meaning or a longer reach into those things that are an older knowledge, then I believe that this one way of opening that door. Especially in our lives today as Westerners, as colonially raised children."

Excerpts from an interview with Kyle Nakanelua:
http://www.pbs.org/skinstories/stories/nakanelua.html

"Then this old design, for example, is the Maui design. It belongs to the Pi'ilani lines. And the Pi'ilani's were the ruling families on Maui — very high born ali'i. And I have connections to those families. And my wife has connections to those families. And therefore, you could say that I'm from the House of Pi'ilani. Or from the House of Maui. So wherever I go, if there are people who understand these things, then they would know, oh, that's one of Pi'ilani's. So that leads to the responsibility part. You know, you gotta be really careful about what you do and how you hold yourself up now in public. Especially if you're taking off your shirt or you're taking off your pants, and you're presenting yourself. Because like those chosen ones from two hundred years ago, you know, they were the representatives of those particular clans. The best that those clans had to offer. So if you're wearing these designs — and let's say they're your family designs, because you've traced it all the way back to your family, and now you're acting like a damn drunk fool in public. Well, so what, this is the best of the Pi'ilani clans? That's what we have to offer today? So I gotta be really careful about what I do nowadays."

"So, on the same token, it works in that other direction. If you're presenting yourself in a very proper form, in a very dignified manner would the people that you represent turn to the person next to them and say, this one is mine. And would they feel good about what you're doing. So that's the question that I also ask myself. And those are the questions that I pose to my children. Would your tupuna be proud of the way that you're behaving right now? "

Excerpts from an interview with Kyle Nakanelua:
http://www.pbs.org/skinstories/stories/nakanelua.html

• Your tattoo artist should use only single-use instruments, sterilized in an autoclave. Be sure to check your shop carefully before you receive your tattoo.
• Your tattoo artist should carefully explain how to care for your tattoo until it is fully healed.
• The Food and Drug Administration has an online Fact Sheet on the more dangerous risks involved with tattoos and permanent makeup

• Your tattoo artist should use only single-use instruments, sterilized in an autoclave. Be sure to check your shop carefully before you receive your tattoo.
• Your tattoo artist should carefully explain how to care for your tattoo until it is fully healed.
• The Food and Drug Administration has an online Fact Sheet on the more dangerous risks involved with tattoos and permanent makeup