Denk including the following with this photo of his first tattoo..

This is my new tattoo! I got it done by Denis at the Aloha Tattoo Studio in Karlsruhe, South Germany.

It’s an incomplete circle inked in the likeness of a brush drawing. These brush circles are called “ensô” in Japanese and are one of the central symbols of Zen. The English Wikipedia article on the ensô describes its symbolism pretty well: “Ensô is perhaps the most common subject of Japanese calligraphy, symbolizing enlightenment, strength, elegance, the universe, and the void; it is also an “expression of the moment” and thus is often considered a form of expressionist art.

I chose the ensô not only because of its symbolism, but also because I consider the imperfect look of Asian brush drawings and calligraphy very aesthetically pleasing. A friend of mine remarked that the tattoo reminded him of the endless serpent that bites it’s own tail (remember ouroboros?). I’d like to hear your thoughts on both the ensô and the tattoo.. and don’t feel shy to produce actual criticism; I consider myself mature enough not to take it personally and retreat into the corner of my room, crying and hugging my knees!

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