What starts out initially as painful, or constant agonising drilling, or "needlework" may bring the fulfilling results of a work of art. But who in their right mind would do such a seemingly gruelling job, let alone a black female?

Meet Ethel Laka, a tattoo artist from Benoni. She is one of the very few, a rare breed, if you will, in South Africa, that finding her was indeed a mission.

After countless calls to many tattoo studios nationwide, Laka's name came up.

Each different person seems to have one verdict about her prowess, which is that: "She is a very talented tattoo artist."

Laka has been working at Anime Mundi for only four years, but she has successfully created a great clientele list in what she calls a "conservative community".

"People here usually get portrait tattoos to remember their loved ones who've passed on," she says.

Half of her own left arm is covered in tattoos of flowers, Gypsy writings and a heart and lock chain. "I don't really have a reason for my tattoos," she says, almost absent-mindedly.

"I just love to express myself artistically. I want to do my whole body, but I hardly get time to do so, with all the clients we get.

"People have shifted their mind-set from thinking of tattoos as a thing for bikers or gangsters," said Laka.

On how many other black female tattoo artists she knew, Laka says not many. "Very few and mostly in the townships," she says. "Setting up a studio is quite expensive, and most people in the townships resort to mobile set-ups, which are more affordable, but usually not very hygienic, therefore, these businesses usually end up collapsing."

Her passion for the arts was groomed by her mother, since her early years. " My mother is a nursery school teacher. So I would always paint and draw boards and placards for her nursery."

At high school she decided to pursue her interest in Fine Arts at the Proarte Alphen Park in Pretoria. After matriculating, she studied for a diploma in health and skincare.However, after graduating she found herself wanting to explore a career in permanent make-up.

She then met Kevin Brown, a tattoo artist from Yeoville, Johannesburg, who taught her how to "ink." She spent six years working under his wing at the Kevin Kustom Tattoo Studio at Cresta Mall.

Comments

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Sat May 18 09:26:04 SAST 2013 ::

Aug 24, 2012

maneater

nice one sisi. i am coming to your shop, i need a tatoo down there.............
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Aug 24, 2012

AlwaysWet

i need one on de handle if you know wat i mean
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Aug 24, 2012

Tabza325is

Sure tattoos look cool when you are still young, but the older you grow and you skin start to rinkle then you start looking like an old scum bag, look at most older women with tattoos they look like flushed out prostitudes...
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Aug 24, 2012

KatakataEmaotoAditshepe

@AlwaysWet

i need one on de handle if you know wat i mean.
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Hm! to ur identity.

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Aug 24, 2012

swona

tattoo, does not work for me!
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Aug 24, 2012

MommaC

Talented indeed.
Great to see a woman showing the men how it should be done :)
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Aug 24, 2012

DJ-Winner

AlwaysWet
i need one on de handle if you know wat i mean
...............................................................................
What is that? Sounds like something nasty....
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Aug 24, 2012

tpaz

this is satanic...originated from Pagan worship.
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Aug 24, 2012

MommaC

AlwaysWet

?? so when you sing 'I'm a little teapot' you know which is the handle and which is the spout?
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Aug 24, 2012

MommaC

tpaz

Wow. That is just so sad.
Christianity can use pagan symbols and christianity GAVE us satamism but it is the pagans' fault?
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