Over a decade ago, I experienced a traumatic accident and the body I knew and loved was suddenly disabled. I felt betrayed by my body and the chronic pain it now carried. As I learned to love my body and appreciate it, I added tattoos to my body that provided myself with pieces of beauty with personal messages that allowed me to always connect to beauty in my body, even when it hurt everywhere. My personal experiences sparked a curiosity in other peoples tattoos and the stories behind them. I’m curious of the installations of our bodies stories that we choose to ink ourselves with. If this project resonates with you, and you’d like to participate, please email me at zara@zaradrapkin.com

The tree represents the tree of life, a symbol in many traditions, including the mystical tradition of Judaism: Kabbalah. More personally, it represents the tree that saved my life when I thought I didn’t want to exist anymore and tried to leave. The sturdy trunk of an oak tree kept my car from falling another 200 feet further down a ravine , and it brought me back to life. I’ve always found deep refuge in the natural world, and even more so since that day. Since then, I have learned to plant my feet more into the earth, to feel my roots, and my hereness, and to remember all of my beloved kin people (Beloved is written in the trunk) and trees who support me to stay here. 

This rose tattoo represents my creative side. My parents gave me the middle name rose, and when I started writing and performing my music I went by the name Sasha Rose. I would always wear a red rose in my hair, symbolizing my connection to my roots, and qualities of passion and love.