The Scars Project

April 6, 2016 7:16 AM

Australian artist Whitney Develle has started a project to offer free tattoos to survivors of self harm. "The way the tattoo made her feel, it was like she was wearing armour on top of her scars." "They can receive some closure and find confidence again."
posted by adept256 (9 comments total)

Speaking as a former self-harmer, this is A #1 awesomesauce. Most of my scars have healed and faded, but there are some on my forearms which may never go away. I had never thought of getting more tattoos to gain a sense of closure and confidence, but now this is on my radar for doing so one day.
posted by Kitteh at 7:25 AM on April 6, 2016 [3 favorites]

There's a person in Toledo Ohio doing the same thing. These are beautiful examples of using personal talent to help others. May we all look at our strengths, and find creative ways to make positive change in the world.
posted by Fig at 7:26 AM on April 6, 2016 [3 favorites]

This is awesome.
posted by SecretAgentSockpuppet at 7:39 AM on April 6, 2016

I have a sudden desire to go to Australia.
posted by feckless fecal fear mongering at 7:39 AM on April 6, 2016

Her work is gorgeous, and so is her heart.
posted by rtha at 8:17 AM on April 6, 2016 [2 favorites]

It's a great idea, and it's being adopted in many places. Here's a recent article about artist Auberon Wolf in the Globe and Mail out of Vancouver.

Tattoo artist turns trauma survivors’ scars into empowering masterpieces
posted by thenormshow at 8:26 AM on April 6, 2016 [1 favorite]

This is great. A lot of the ink on musician Frank Turner's body is to cover scars.
posted by headnsouth at 8:27 AM on April 6, 2016

What a kind and excellent thing to do.
posted by ColdOfTheIsleOfMan at 10:40 AM on April 6, 2016

So, so dusty in here.
posted by joycehealy at 6:03 PM on April 7, 2016