Why my tattoos are anyone’s business in Pakistan?

Why the first response to my tattoos from random people around me in Pakistan is, “What you are gonna do when you grow old?”

Why is this anyone’s concern? And, above all, why we can’t grow old with tattoos? How wrinkly do they think I will become? And even if I am wrinkly, isn’t it my damn problem?

Even an eight year old boy (my cousin’s son from London) objected few days ago (When he met me the first time) “It’s not good to have tattoos; you can’t change them.” (Eh…?) Then followed by, “I will become a grandpa so I don’t want tattoos.” (Again, eh…?)

How strange it is that in this part of the world, my tattoos, my clothes, my name, personality, thoughts, lifestyle, relationship even my art…all are subject to objection, stare and judgment but few thousands miles away in Europe, they were admired for their purity and uniqueness.

No one turned to me on the road in West to stare as if I was dropped naked from another planet. Most of the young people (some even old) had tattoos (wayyyyy more than I have). Everyone wore what I wore.

I felt normal there.

I felt ‘belonged’.

Free.

And alive.

#tattoos #berlin #germany #switzerland #artbasel #art #USA

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