DIDIHOOD ~ Issue 24

We're already into the second month of the year.

We kicked off our year with a feature in Laadilyan, a non-profit organization that celebrates and empowers South Asian daughters. Check out the post here.

We know Didihood has been semi-silent on the event front, but don't worry, we are planning and brainstorming what 2020 will look like — and we are excited. In fact, we're hoping to expand our team of dedicated Didis. This month we will be doing an official volunteer call-out for any Didi who is interested in working in the areas of social media, outreach and communications,  and event planning for 2020.

We are looking for Didis who can commit to at least one meeting with their teams per month, as well as needed work in between. If you are interested, please send us an email letting us know why you want to get involved with Didihood in 2020 and please highlight which areas you want to work in (as named above). Related experience isn't mandatory. You can find us at [email protected]m.

Meet the Didi: 

This month we chat with Samantha Daveena Gabuji, an intuitive tattoo artist based in Toronto.
You can follow along and view her designs here.

How did you get into the tattoo business? What inspired you?

My first big step into the world of tattooing was in 2017 when I began a formal tattoo apprenticeship. I had been working in the field of holistic health and wellness for a number of years as a yoga instructor, holistic therapist, and birth doula. When I had visited Bali in 2017, I spent a lot of time hanging out in a local tattoo studio, just making art and having fun. When a good friend of mine was getting a particularly painful tattoo, I naturally began implementing my pain management techniques from birth coaching. It was a fantastic experience, and it really got me thinking about how I could unify my life's work, with my life's passion of art.

I have always believed in the sacredness of tattoo art, but never saw myself as someone who could facilitate a spiritual tattoo experience until that point. As soon as I got home, I was on a mission to learn everything I could about the craft of tattooing.

How did this turn into a career for you?

At first, I wasn't really sure how tattooing would mesh with my existing work, and as part of my lifestyle. Full-time apprenticing took a huge toll financially, so after about a year, I went back to work by assisting in the opening of a painting studio, which I managed for over a year while I continued to tattoo independently.
Outside of the commercial and social restrictions of a tattoo shop, I was able to fully commit myself to my goal of uniting tattoo art with spiritual intention. I decided because of the spiritually sensitive nature of my work, the best setting for my intuitive tattooing would be a private studio where I had more control over the environment.
I like to maintain a comfortable, quiet, and intimate space for my clients, and I was fortunate enough to have space in my home that I could convert into an in-home studio, where I now work every day. I've also connected with a great shop in Kensington Market in Toronto which I also work from as a more centrally located alternative for my clients. This year I will be touring with a group of  phenomenal artists, and I'm sure that I will learn so much more. My career is still evolving, and the direction is becoming more focused as I continue to grow. 

You don't see many brown women in the tattooing space. Do you believe barriers still exist?

This North American Tattoo industry has been dominated by white men for so long. One of the first things that I learned was this industry is very cut throat and is aggressively protected by these men's own system of values and beliefs. Breaking into this industry has been a challenge for many people of colour.

My defiance of this type of bullying was really fuelled by my education on the history of tattooing. Tattooing was practiced in most Indigenous cultures of the world since the emergence of art in our collective awareness. Up until recently, tattoos were adorned mostly on brown skin, and often by women tattooers.

The tattoo industry appears to be going through a huge shift, back into the hands of all artists in all their diversity. This change is being pushed forward by the clients who demand new styles, a diverse range of creative perspectives, and sometimes just a safe space where they feel welcomed and accepted for who they are. This demand is giving rise to a whole new generation of tattoo artists, including women of colour like myself, and a whole array of artists.

Tattoos, for some, are still seen as a taboo. How did you develop a connection with this art form?

I think a lot of why we still see tattoos as taboo has to do with the values passed down through colonization and the concept of "civilizing" Indigenous peoples of the world. I think part of decolonizing our belief system involves shifting our perspective on tattooing. Many of my own ancestral grandmothers were beautiful tattooed women. I do not see their brown tattooed bodies and their culture as taboo. As a woman of colour, I see my work as a way for me to reach backwards, before the mis-education, and reclaim the wisdom behind the sacredness of permanent body art. 

What would be your advice for someone interested in working as a tattoo artist?

Evaluate your values and motivation for doing it. Getting into this work is now easier than ever, thanks to the rise of the internet, and those that have broken down so many barriers before us. However, I believe that one of the keys to really flourish in a highly competitive and somewhat saturated industry is to truly know yourself. Know your strengths and weaknesses and know what you have to offer.
I advise a new tattooer to get super clear on these things, and hold on to them for dear life as they work their ass off to forge ahead. There will be challenges that test your integrity, your confidence, and even your mental well being. But if you keep yourself humbly open to growth and change ... you will fly!

What we're reading: 
What's in a name? A South Asian writer recently opened up about the struggle of trying to find a South Asian name for his child. A name other children (and adults) could pronounce.

Two queer South Asian women recently shared their anniversary photos online and they've gone viral. 

Upcoming Event:
In Vancouver, check out Bedtime Stories, an on-going open mic night of local writers in local cafes. This event focuses on people who are interested in the literary world. Tickets can be bought here.

Toronto and Vancouver social: We'll be hosting a Didihood social in the next few weeks. Stay tuned for more details on our Instagram! 

— Arti Patel

Issue 24 
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