Female tattoo artist works despite stigma
(9 Oct 2015) LEAD IN:
Tattoo artists in Tunisia are few and far between, especially so if you're a woman working in the industry.
But Manel Mahdouani is determined to change this and has been practising the art for years to become one of the best.
STORY-LINE:
With quiet concentration Manel Mahdouani finishes her latest design.
The artist is working from her kitchen table out of her flat in Megrine, south of Tunis.
But this art won't hang on the walls of art galleries or homes, instead it will soon be inked onto the skin of a waiting customer.
Mahdouani claims to be Tunisia's first female tattoo artist - a difficult profession in a conservative country.
The 28-year-old has been working for two and half years under the name 'Agape' meaning 'love' in Greek.
She says she's always been fascinated by tattoos, but never thought she'd turn it into a profession.
After studying psychology and then trying out art classes, she turned to tattooing and likes the permanence of the art.
"I'm sure that the work I've done will stay forever. It wont get damaged or burn, or anything. I've participated in exhibitions before, but it wasn't great because even though I sold some paintings I wasn't fully convinced that it would be taken care of".
In 2012, she got her first tattoo from a friend.
He encouraged her to start practising and even gave her her first tattooing kit.
But it took time for her to build up the courage to call herself a tattoo artist, practicing on friends until she felt confident enough to turn professional.
Since 2013, she's tattooed more than 100 people, ranging in age from 18 to 68.
The majority, she says, are between 20 and 40.
Her tattoos vary in size and detail, some have been as small as a stamp; others cover the whole body.
She says she once worked for six hours to get the tattoo just right.
She usually charges 50 Tunisian Dinars a tattoo (around 25 USD), but says it can increase to 800 Dinars (around 400 USD) for something big.
It's obvious Mahdouani sees tattooing as an art - and loves to design and draw for her clients.
But she sometimes laments her client's choices.
"Unfortunately, from what I see here, people mainly follow fashion. And that's unfortunate. They don't get a tattoo for the love of tattoos. Even if they know it won't ever leave, they still get it. They don't take the time to choose, and that's sadly the majority."
She says portraits of celebrities are popular, much to her annoyance.
Fortunately for Mahdouani, some customers come with a precise idea of what they want.
Others simply want something beautiful.
Today, Lyla Mamaari is getting her fifth tattoo. Her first, completed last February, was also done by Mahdouani.
Her family, she says, are against her body art and see it as taboo.
She says this is not uncommon in Tunisia where many people disapprove of the tattooing culture.
"I want to say that there is no reason to judge me or to judge people that have tattoos because we don't hurt anyone. We're tattooed, it's our problem, it's like a birthmark, it shouldn't bother anyone. It's my choice," shares Mamaari.
There are around a dozen professional tattoo artists in Tunisia, but also many with little training.
The Syndicate of Tunisian Tattoo Artists was founded last year to regulate the industry and Mahdouani hopes it will also help society accept that tattoos are here to stay.
Mahdouani hopes to travel the world; discovering new cultures, people - and inspiration.
But in the long-term she sees herself settling in Tunisia.
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