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.

Be Like Water


Anyone else catch last night’s UFC event? Mixed Martial Arts can be an acquired taste, but it’s oddly compelling once you get into it. Plus, I doubt there’s another sport — aside from maybe the NBA — that offers tattooed athletes such visibility, so there’s that. The above piece is, I believe, on a young man named Emil Hennix, who, if Google has taught me anything, is an amateur fighter himself.

See more in Old School (and Old) Tattoos (Tattoos)

Comments

92 responses to “Be Like Water”

  1. Aiglos Avatar
    Aiglos

    I will not forgive this.

  2. Aiglos Avatar
    Aiglos

    I will not forgive this.

  3. Nicklas Avatar

    Wooho, Sweden ;p

    The scribbly sentence says “orgive me” in swedish and you don’t have to be a genius to realise that there’s supossed to be an F in the begining.

  4. Nicklas Avatar

    Wooho, Sweden ;p

    The scribbly sentence says “orgive me” in swedish and you don’t have to be a genius to realise that there’s supossed to be an F in the begining.

  5. Nicklas Avatar

    Wooho, Sweden ;p

    The scribbly sentence says “orgive me” in swedish and you don’t have to be a genius to realise that there’s supossed to be an F in the begining.

  6. Nicklas Avatar

    Wooho, Sweden ;p

    The scribbly sentence says “orgive me” in swedish and you don’t have to be a genius to realise that there’s supossed to be an F in the begining.

  7. HereKittyKitty Avatar
    HereKittyKitty

    The roses are nice.

  8. HereKittyKitty Avatar
    HereKittyKitty

    The roses are nice.

  9. HereKittyKitty Avatar
    HereKittyKitty

    The roses are nice.

  10. HereKittyKitty Avatar
    HereKittyKitty

    The roses are nice.

  11. Jon P Avatar
    Jon P

    I’m starting to despise the way everyone thinks every tattoo is supposed to be a masterpiece executed with impeccable taste, precision, and skill. Sure, really bad tattoos by scratchers are crap. But c’mon, some people (like myself) like tattoos that are just tattoos. I appreciate the masterpieces, but I don’t want any myself.

    I don’t think this tatt’s all that bad. The portrait isn’t wildly crappy, it’s okay. It looks like what it’s supposed to. And I like the way it sits in the old school roses. Looks kinda cool. I bet this guy loves it too.

    F*ck Kat Von D, Ed Hardy, Shikoi Neko, and all that other fashion sh*t that’s commodified tattooing. We’ll still be here long after all the kids drop out and start hating on their ‘masterpieces’.

  12. Jon P Avatar
    Jon P

    I’m starting to despise the way everyone thinks every tattoo is supposed to be a masterpiece executed with impeccable taste, precision, and skill. Sure, really bad tattoos by scratchers are crap. But c’mon, some people (like myself) like tattoos that are just tattoos. I appreciate the masterpieces, but I don’t want any myself.

    I don’t think this tatt’s all that bad. The portrait isn’t wildly crappy, it’s okay. It looks like what it’s supposed to. And I like the way it sits in the old school roses. Looks kinda cool. I bet this guy loves it too.

    F*ck Kat Von D, Ed Hardy, Shikoi Neko, and all that other fashion sh*t that’s commodified tattooing. We’ll still be here long after all the kids drop out and start hating on their ‘masterpieces’.

  13. Jon P Avatar
    Jon P

    I’m starting to despise the way everyone thinks every tattoo is supposed to be a masterpiece executed with impeccable taste, precision, and skill. Sure, really bad tattoos by scratchers are crap. But c’mon, some people (like myself) like tattoos that are just tattoos. I appreciate the masterpieces, but I don’t want any myself.

    I don’t think this tatt’s all that bad. The portrait isn’t wildly crappy, it’s okay. It looks like what it’s supposed to. And I like the way it sits in the old school roses. Looks kinda cool. I bet this guy loves it too.

    F*ck Kat Von D, Ed Hardy, Shikoi Neko, and all that other fashion sh*t that’s commodified tattooing. We’ll still be here long after all the kids drop out and start hating on their ‘masterpieces’.

  14. Jon P Avatar
    Jon P

    I’m starting to despise the way everyone thinks every tattoo is supposed to be a masterpiece executed with impeccable taste, precision, and skill. Sure, really bad tattoos by scratchers are crap. But c’mon, some people (like myself) like tattoos that are just tattoos. I appreciate the masterpieces, but I don’t want any myself.

    I don’t think this tatt’s all that bad. The portrait isn’t wildly crappy, it’s okay. It looks like what it’s supposed to. And I like the way it sits in the old school roses. Looks kinda cool. I bet this guy loves it too.

    F*ck Kat Von D, Ed Hardy, Shikoi Neko, and all that other fashion sh*t that’s commodified tattooing. We’ll still be here long after all the kids drop out and start hating on their ‘masterpieces’.

  15. Dirty Sanchez Avatar
    Dirty Sanchez

    So what’s up with bme only posting hack tattoos now? I guess when Shannon left, so did the taste of the website…

  16. Dirty Sanchez Avatar
    Dirty Sanchez

    So what’s up with bme only posting hack tattoos now? I guess when Shannon left, so did the taste of the website…

  17. Dirty Sanchez Avatar
    Dirty Sanchez

    So what’s up with bme only posting hack tattoos now? I guess when Shannon left, so did the taste of the website…

  18. Dirty Sanchez Avatar
    Dirty Sanchez

    So what’s up with bme only posting hack tattoos now? I guess when Shannon left, so did the taste of the website…

  19. Drew Avatar
    Drew

    @jon p. i agree about F*ck Kat Von D, Ed Hardy, Shikoi Neko, and the shitty fashion aspect that has sprung up around tattooing, but personally im a kid(21) and i like my masterpieces, all from Rodney Raines at Ace Custom Tattoo in Charlotte, NC, and i dont think ill ever “start hating” my tattoos.

    and yea, i dont like the juxtaposition between the roses and portrait. the portrait looks like Ed Norton in fight club, but not good, and the roses make the already poor, and overly shaded portrait standout even more.

  20. Drew Avatar
    Drew

    @jon p. i agree about F*ck Kat Von D, Ed Hardy, Shikoi Neko, and the shitty fashion aspect that has sprung up around tattooing, but personally im a kid(21) and i like my masterpieces, all from Rodney Raines at Ace Custom Tattoo in Charlotte, NC, and i dont think ill ever “start hating” my tattoos.

    and yea, i dont like the juxtaposition between the roses and portrait. the portrait looks like Ed Norton in fight club, but not good, and the roses make the already poor, and overly shaded portrait standout even more.

  21. Drew Avatar
    Drew

    @jon p. i agree about F*ck Kat Von D, Ed Hardy, Shikoi Neko, and the shitty fashion aspect that has sprung up around tattooing, but personally im a kid(21) and i like my masterpieces, all from Rodney Raines at Ace Custom Tattoo in Charlotte, NC, and i dont think ill ever “start hating” my tattoos.

    and yea, i dont like the juxtaposition between the roses and portrait. the portrait looks like Ed Norton in fight club, but not good, and the roses make the already poor, and overly shaded portrait standout even more.

  22. Drew Avatar
    Drew

    @jon p. i agree about F*ck Kat Von D, Ed Hardy, Shikoi Neko, and the shitty fashion aspect that has sprung up around tattooing, but personally im a kid(21) and i like my masterpieces, all from Rodney Raines at Ace Custom Tattoo in Charlotte, NC, and i dont think ill ever “start hating” my tattoos.

    and yea, i dont like the juxtaposition between the roses and portrait. the portrait looks like Ed Norton in fight club, but not good, and the roses make the already poor, and overly shaded portrait standout even more.

  23. Jessorz Avatar

    Normally I would love the contrast between the black and grey portrait and the colorful flowers, but I’m going to agree with the consensus that the portrait just doesnt really look right.

    and to Jon P, i dont think we’re over-analyzing it. portraiture is really difficult to get exactly right, because unlike with pencil or charcoal, it’s harder to blend with a needle and ink so it’s really easy to screw up the shading. I think people who want to do portraits should practice A LOT before actually applying ink to human skin, because personally i dont want something on my body forever unless it looks exactly right. especially if its a portrait of a loved one.

    Thanks to those of you who speak Swedish, cuz i was wondering what that meant myself. ha.

  24. Jessorz Avatar

    Normally I would love the contrast between the black and grey portrait and the colorful flowers, but I’m going to agree with the consensus that the portrait just doesnt really look right.

    and to Jon P, i dont think we’re over-analyzing it. portraiture is really difficult to get exactly right, because unlike with pencil or charcoal, it’s harder to blend with a needle and ink so it’s really easy to screw up the shading. I think people who want to do portraits should practice A LOT before actually applying ink to human skin, because personally i dont want something on my body forever unless it looks exactly right. especially if its a portrait of a loved one.

    Thanks to those of you who speak Swedish, cuz i was wondering what that meant myself. ha.

  25. Jessorz Avatar

    Normally I would love the contrast between the black and grey portrait and the colorful flowers, but I’m going to agree with the consensus that the portrait just doesnt really look right.

    and to Jon P, i dont think we’re over-analyzing it. portraiture is really difficult to get exactly right, because unlike with pencil or charcoal, it’s harder to blend with a needle and ink so it’s really easy to screw up the shading. I think people who want to do portraits should practice A LOT before actually applying ink to human skin, because personally i dont want something on my body forever unless it looks exactly right. especially if its a portrait of a loved one.

    Thanks to those of you who speak Swedish, cuz i was wondering what that meant myself. ha.

  26. Jessorz Avatar

    Normally I would love the contrast between the black and grey portrait and the colorful flowers, but I’m going to agree with the consensus that the portrait just doesnt really look right.

    and to Jon P, i dont think we’re over-analyzing it. portraiture is really difficult to get exactly right, because unlike with pencil or charcoal, it’s harder to blend with a needle and ink so it’s really easy to screw up the shading. I think people who want to do portraits should practice A LOT before actually applying ink to human skin, because personally i dont want something on my body forever unless it looks exactly right. especially if its a portrait of a loved one.

    Thanks to those of you who speak Swedish, cuz i was wondering what that meant myself. ha.

  27. lovelife Avatar
    lovelife

    Damn this shit is nasty. It’s like someone was trying too hard to tattoo like Uncle Allan without knowing their fundamentals.

  28. lovelife Avatar
    lovelife

    Damn this shit is nasty. It’s like someone was trying too hard to tattoo like Uncle Allan without knowing their fundamentals.

  29. lovelife Avatar
    lovelife

    Damn this shit is nasty. It’s like someone was trying too hard to tattoo like Uncle Allan without knowing their fundamentals.

  30. lovelife Avatar
    lovelife

    Damn this shit is nasty. It’s like someone was trying too hard to tattoo like Uncle Allan without knowing their fundamentals.

  31. Kenevin Avatar

    PLEASE, tell me that isn’t supposed to be Bruce Lee…

  32. Kenevin Avatar

    PLEASE, tell me that isn’t supposed to be Bruce Lee…

  33. Kenevin Avatar

    PLEASE, tell me that isn’t supposed to be Bruce Lee…

  34. Kenevin Avatar

    PLEASE, tell me that isn’t supposed to be Bruce Lee…

  35. Somanachronistic Avatar
    Somanachronistic

    Common guys, it could be a sketch the guy wearing it did in highschool or somethin’!

  36. Somanachronistic Avatar
    Somanachronistic

    Common guys, it could be a sketch the guy wearing it did in highschool or somethin’!

  37. Somanachronistic Avatar
    Somanachronistic

    Common guys, it could be a sketch the guy wearing it did in highschool or somethin’!

  38. Somanachronistic Avatar
    Somanachronistic

    Common guys, it could be a sketch the guy wearing it did in highschool or somethin’!

  39. Emil Avatar
    Emil

    Yo guys, yup, it’s my tattoo!

    I love it, i think it’s great but will be accesoared more accomplished in the surrounding, and some more skin in between wouldn’t have killed!

    But i really like it, just be glad it isn’t on your arm!

    Keep fightin and inkin’, peace out!

  40. Emil Avatar
    Emil

    Yo guys, yup, it’s my tattoo!

    I love it, i think it’s great but will be accesoared more accomplished in the surrounding, and some more skin in between wouldn’t have killed!

    But i really like it, just be glad it isn’t on your arm!

    Keep fightin and inkin’, peace out!

  41. Emil Avatar
    Emil

    Yo guys, yup, it’s my tattoo!

    I love it, i think it’s great but will be accesoared more accomplished in the surrounding, and some more skin in between wouldn’t have killed!

    But i really like it, just be glad it isn’t on your arm!

    Keep fightin and inkin’, peace out!

  42. Emil Avatar
    Emil

    Yo guys, yup, it’s my tattoo!

    I love it, i think it’s great but will be accesoared more accomplished in the surrounding, and some more skin in between wouldn’t have killed!

    But i really like it, just be glad it isn’t on your arm!

    Keep fightin and inkin’, peace out!

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