A black-and-white photo of a person mid-air in a Superman-style body suspension pose, supported by multiple hooks in their back and legs, smiling joyfully toward the camera. They are suspended horizontally in a large indoor space with high ceilings and visible rigging. A group of onlookers—some seated, some standing—watch with expressions of admiration, amusement, and support. The atmosphere is lively and communal, capturing a moment of shared experience and transformation.

Battle Wounds

When Joulie‘s tattoo was healing she got a terrible infection, causing her three black squares to lose a lot of ink — they were supposed to be solid black. I actually think this has given them a ton of character and quite like the way it looks (much to my tattoo artist’s chagrin I haven’t filled in the scar on my blackwork from where a hook tore out, but I like the memories).

three-black-squares.jpg

Comments

96 responses to “Battle Wounds”

  1. LotN Avatar

    First thought on seeing the tattoo was “what a great effect; wonder how the artist did that!” Then I read the intro. I love the meeting of nature and artistry (another reason to see wrinkly old tattoos in a positive light)…

  2. LotN Avatar

    First thought on seeing the tattoo was “what a great effect; wonder how the artist did that!” Then I read the intro. I love the meeting of nature and artistry (another reason to see wrinkly old tattoos in a positive light)…

  3. punkelvse Avatar

    Where goes the line on getting simmilar tattos here? Just a little while ago there was this fiery disgusion over who had copied Roo’s tatto and to what extent.. And when some one copies this, who a lot of people has seen on and relate Apnea too (who I have read in an Apnea interview that this tattoo was drawn on her by her boyfriend and then tattoed) and that is ok? Really hypocritical, but I guess no one cares when it is black squares and not something special.

  4. punkelvse Avatar

    Where goes the line on getting simmilar tattos here? Just a little while ago there was this fiery disgusion over who had copied Roo’s tatto and to what extent.. And when some one copies this, who a lot of people has seen on and relate Apnea too (who I have read in an Apnea interview that this tattoo was drawn on her by her boyfriend and then tattoed) and that is ok? Really hypocritical, but I guess no one cares when it is black squares and not something special.

  5. Kate Avatar
    Kate

    It does look like a cool pattern that is supposed to be there. Is there a special meaning to the three black square tattoo? Other than Apnea’s?

  6. Kate Avatar
    Kate

    It does look like a cool pattern that is supposed to be there. Is there a special meaning to the three black square tattoo? Other than Apnea’s?

  7. phrawzty Avatar

    For the record, i had never even /heard/ of “Apnea” before this post. Clearly, she isn’t quite as famous as some might be lead to believe ; ergo, i highly doubt other people are biting her style every time they get black squares tattooed to themselves.

  8. phrawzty Avatar

    For the record, i had never even /heard/ of “Apnea” before this post. Clearly, she isn’t quite as famous as some might be lead to believe ; ergo, i highly doubt other people are biting her style every time they get black squares tattooed to themselves.

  9. Bob Avatar
    Bob

    I heard that Malevich is pretty pissed at Apnea for ripping off his designs.

  10. Bob Avatar
    Bob

    I heard that Malevich is pretty pissed at Apnea for ripping off his designs.

  11. Caroline June Avatar
    Caroline June

    I think it’s great; if one tried to do something like that it’d fail but it just looks really good

  12. Caroline June Avatar
    Caroline June

    I think it’s great; if one tried to do something like that it’d fail but it just looks really good

  13. simon Avatar
    simon

    I wonder what the infection was. I’m dealing with a skin infection for over three years now, and I cannot seem to get rid of it. It kinda annoys the hell out of me because I’m afraid that whenever I will get tattooed the whole area will become infected.
    I have Impetigo, some hard to treat kinda variety I guess, it should be cured in two weeks, but I ended in hospital with it, they cured me, and two weeks later it was back. They keep giving me the same ointments, ans they allways work, but it allways comes right back after the treatment…

  14. simon Avatar
    simon

    I wonder what the infection was. I’m dealing with a skin infection for over three years now, and I cannot seem to get rid of it. It kinda annoys the hell out of me because I’m afraid that whenever I will get tattooed the whole area will become infected.
    I have Impetigo, some hard to treat kinda variety I guess, it should be cured in two weeks, but I ended in hospital with it, they cured me, and two weeks later it was back. They keep giving me the same ointments, ans they allways work, but it allways comes right back after the treatment…

  15. lily Avatar
    lily

    Ahahahaha! yeah, not ripping off apnea….that’s why the tattoo is in the same location too. Call the shitty heal “tattoo karma” if u will.

  16. lily Avatar
    lily

    Ahahahaha! yeah, not ripping off apnea….that’s why the tattoo is in the same location too. Call the shitty heal “tattoo karma” if u will.

  17. Jay Prince Avatar
    Jay Prince

    that happened to some of my black work on the first pass, but due to having other tattoos under it, it didnt look very cool, so i had it fixed…

  18. Jay Prince Avatar
    Jay Prince

    that happened to some of my black work on the first pass, but due to having other tattoos under it, it didnt look very cool, so i had it fixed…

  19. Fallen Angel Eyes Avatar
    Fallen Angel Eyes

    Wow, that turned out quite nicely. I thought of Apnea at first as well.

  20. Fallen Angel Eyes Avatar
    Fallen Angel Eyes

    Wow, that turned out quite nicely. I thought of Apnea at first as well.

  21. if6was9 Avatar
    if6was9

    Seems like an Apnea ripoff, with an unfortunate side effect that makes it different.

  22. if6was9 Avatar
    if6was9

    Seems like an Apnea ripoff, with an unfortunate side effect that makes it different.

  23. piercedvein Avatar
    piercedvein

    Very clever Bob … Haha …

  24. piercedvein Avatar
    piercedvein

    Very clever Bob … Haha …

  25. wana Avatar
    wana

    apnea: old SG?

  26. wana Avatar
    wana

    apnea: old SG?

  27. maureen_cross Avatar
    maureen_cross

    yes wana, old SG

  28. maureen_cross Avatar
    maureen_cross

    yes wana, old SG

  29. chloedon Avatar

    when i was the modblog post i thought it was the old SG, i remember loving that tattoo.

    but i hate it when people get posted on here and then get bad mouthed, because this girl is probably going to read these, and is going to forever assosiate her tattoo (which is obviously for life) with these shitty comments. show some consideration?

  30. chloedon Avatar

    when i was the modblog post i thought it was the old SG, i remember loving that tattoo.

    but i hate it when people get posted on here and then get bad mouthed, because this girl is probably going to read these, and is going to forever assosiate her tattoo (which is obviously for life) with these shitty comments. show some consideration?

  31. coffiend Avatar

    apnea was not the first to get three squares tattooed, maybe even in that particular location! you can’t steal squares because, oh i don’t know their fucking squares. everybody already stole them… even apnea. remember, your “creative” ideas for your original tattoo are just manifestations of things that already exist.

    i offer any of my work to be stolen. please get it tattooed if you want. i liked it enough to get it and you might too.

    now on a more gentle note.

    i enjoy these squares a lot! i love when art forms present their own personalities and offer up happy little “accidents”

  32. coffiend Avatar

    apnea was not the first to get three squares tattooed, maybe even in that particular location! you can’t steal squares because, oh i don’t know their fucking squares. everybody already stole them… even apnea. remember, your “creative” ideas for your original tattoo are just manifestations of things that already exist.

    i offer any of my work to be stolen. please get it tattooed if you want. i liked it enough to get it and you might too.

    now on a more gentle note.

    i enjoy these squares a lot! i love when art forms present their own personalities and offer up happy little “accidents”

  33. coffiend Avatar

    sorry bout the rant. another piercer here just gave me the ol’ “whoa angry fingers.”

  34. coffiend Avatar

    sorry bout the rant. another piercer here just gave me the ol’ “whoa angry fingers.”

  35. Megs Avatar
    Megs

    I love the look.. looks AWESOME..

  36. Megs Avatar
    Megs

    I love the look.. looks AWESOME..

  37. catherinef89 Avatar

    Almost weathered!

  38. catherinef89 Avatar

    Almost weathered!

  39. tattau Avatar
    tattau

    I agree with #27.

    To #41: Who cares if she’s going to read it, that’s what she gets for her lack of creativity.

  40. tattau Avatar
    tattau

    I agree with #27.

    To #41: Who cares if she’s going to read it, that’s what she gets for her lack of creativity.

  41. book Avatar

    So, who’s a famous girl with other geometric shaped tattooed on her? Solid color stars, maybe?
    How about we round up all the girls with stars in the same location and call them uncreative copycats too!
    I think the scar pattern is great. I also think that without – it would still look great.

  42. book Avatar

    So, who’s a famous girl with other geometric shaped tattooed on her? Solid color stars, maybe?
    How about we round up all the girls with stars in the same location and call them uncreative copycats too!
    I think the scar pattern is great. I also think that without – it would still look great.

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