Tattoo

By mina / August 18, 2010 / Mixed Media / No Comments

Solar plate prints to illustrate ‘Tattoo‘ loosely based on the 1941 traditional spanish song made famous by the one and only Concha Piquer. It tells the story of a girl that falls in love with a sailor with a tattoo of his ex’s name… read it before I spoil it for you but, I’ll warn you now, it’s heartbreak fest for everyone involved.

The collages combine found photos and images of the period with traditional Tattoo inspired drawings, some of the collages are made out of well over a hundred images.

Handprinted A5 Chine-Collé 1 Ink Solar plates

Tattoo

It was a foreign ship that brought him to me

I found him that dark and cold summers eve

As the lighthouse sent the vessels its gentle kiss

Tattoo

All Charms and hair as light as Ale

Proud he stood with his chest tattooed

His voice an aching nightingale

Tattoo

Soon after one bottle he started to reveal

The story of the name written on his skin

For the deep inked wound would never ever heal

Tattoo

“We once had love but she soon forgot

and forever I shall try to win her back

the only one I truly loved now long gone”

Tattoo

One grey morn in that same ship he disappeared

Having stolen something from between my lips

The one thing I asked him for, a lovers kiss

Tattoo

From then on I have been looking from port to port

Is he dead or alive is all I need to know

The only one I truly loved now long gone

Tattoo

Since that kiss I can’t eat, breathe or sleep

Look at his name now inked deep in my skin

If you find him let him know I am dying for him

Many thanks to Gloria and Veronica for the help and endless patience with the text.