The Right To Be

First things first: we just want to wish all and sundry a very Happy Chinese New Year!  May the year of the Rabbit bring everyone joy, good health and prosperity and some rockin' ink!

EK:

We've fielded a few requests before and just after the first two days of CNY to do a few tats, and some of them were made to mark a new phase in life, particularly after having come through a difficult one.

Speaking of having a difficult time, I'd like to highlight a sector of Malaysian society who often, if not always, never had it easy -- the marginalised and misunderstood transexuals of this country. It is particularly difficult for the men-to-women transgender folk colloquially called Mak Nyah.

US Skin Grafx is sponsoring tattoo prizes this Saturday, at a fundraiser held right around the corner of the shop, at MAP@KL at Solaris Dutamas, to help raise some money to help Mak Nyahs. Friends new and old, readers, whoever you are, are more than welcome and indeed, encouraged to come and lend a little help at this event, which will feature punk rockers, indie music, poetry readings and an auction featuring tattoo prizes (from us!!!) 

NOTE: More details on the event at the bottom of this blog post. Don't miss it!!!! COME TO THE EVENT LAH!!!

I found out about Justice for our Sisters festival via a Facebook post from my old friend, the activist, curator, writer and arts supporter, the dashing-and-articulate Mr. Pang Khee Teik of the Annexe Gallery in Central Market.

Back in the USA, we fairly regularly contributed vouchers and gift certs to help benefit Greystone Ranch, a wildlife rescue ranch and sanctuary, a local community club and various support groups. Randy mentioned that we should help out for this transgender fundraiser, and I asked him why.

"Because," my husband replied, "they are just trying to be themselves and express who they are without fear or favour. That's hand-in-hand with what tattoos are all about. Freedom of self-expression and the right to be who you are - straight, gay, bi, trans, whatever. People are people.  Isn't that why we do what we do as artists?" 

After emailing organisers Angela and Thilaga with my proposal, I took a couple of days to reflect upon this event. I came to realise that we're doing this not just to help out a good cause.  We all have friends who might, one day in the future, benefit in more ways than one from everyone's efforts today.

I was a teenager when I met my first Mak Nyah. Mum found a new hairdresser who had just quit a large saloon in Petaling Jaya. He worked out of a house, and did a really good job. More importantly (as my parents were saving up every spare penny to for their kids to study overseas), he was cheap. "His name's Charlie (not the real name).  He's slightly cha boh heng (effeminate) but don't let that deter you. He'll look at your face and figure and recommend what's best for you. I'm definitely happy with my hair," she said that to other relatives and friends.

A few of my aunts went to him, and so did I. Charlie greeted clients in flamboyant clothes -- harem pants, colourful tops. In time, the cut of his clothes became softer and he dared to use make-up. One time, he met one of my aunts in full make up, a fresh manicure, a bustier and silk skirt. She got her hair done, then relayed the experience gleefully to me. In turn, I relayed the incident (gleefully, too) to my mother.

To my surprise, mum chided me. "You don't need to say things like that," she said a bit roughly. Mum was a lot more understanding to what Charlie was going through. Then she added, "He's not had it easy.  As a little boy, his father beat him and scolded him because he would rather play with dolls than football with the rest of the boys. Today, he doesn't speak to anyone but his mother because everyone else in his family won't accept him. By the way, he hasn't seen his family in 8 years, even though he has been sending money back regularly. They accept the money, but they won't accept him."

Later, I was to discover that Charlie often confided in Mum about the mental agony he experienced in being born with physical attributes that he was not in sync with. How he was ostracised by schoolfriends, family members and suchlike when he decided to be himself (they thought he was sick/unnatural/possessed etc). The way he threw himself into every relationship he had because he thought he was so lucky to find a man who would

accept him -- or her --- for who he/she was. The way some of these men would return the favour by sponging off with free meals, nice gifts (clothes/watches/colognes etc) and borrowing money (which was never returned).

Charlie changed his gender and his name. Not legally (for laws still do not allow that). "But you can call me Cheryl" (again, not the real name). After a few years of being Cheryl, she took the big step: she worked like a madwoman to save money for the operation.  And when she had enough for it, she booked herself an appointment and a return plane ticket. When she returned home, she was an anatomically-correct, truly complete Cheryl.

Cheryl's story has a happy ending. She met a nice man, and married him in a lavish ceremony. By the way, her family reconciled with her. Hard to not give face to friends, in the face of a truly happy bride who worked and fought for what she wanted, and after many hardships, got what she wanted.

She now lives abroad, and we hope, happily. We wish her well. This is a true story.

Not everyone has a happy ending or has found it, however. In recent times, many have faced gross abuse and persecution from people around them. They've been steadily discriminated against for years. In my previous careers, I've met transgender individuals who go through this, and are forced to lead double lives or hide who they are for fear of being treated badly.

They face up to society's BS with a mixture of defensive scorn, bitterness and dignity. I think many of they have greater strength and perserverance than a great many of the rest of us who are born with the equipment we're perfectly happy with.

I just wanted to note that a number of my transgender friends mother-hen'ed me, to my initial surprise. "Lose some weight, la, you'll be so much prettier". "You already got a bust, you no need to take hormone injection, you make the best of the rest la". "Better put some lipstick on, you look tired. Last night never sleep is it???," were some of the memorable quips I received.

.I'm neither a bleeding heart nor an activist; but I strongly believe that a person has a right to be who they are, so long as they aren't directly harming anyone, what does it matter?

BACK TO THE EVENT: Justice For the Sisters festival is held from 2pm to 10pm at Solaris Dutamas's MAP@KL, block A5 (about where Kencana Petroleum is at), 1, Jalan Dutamas 1, 50480 Kuala Lumpur on SATURDAY, Feb 12, 2011.

Entry to the event is via donation at the door. From 2pm to 4pm, entry is RM10 to watch acts like Jeannys&The Melody, Chill please!, Corporate Youth, Kaptain, The Fays and Swampy Zombie Fever.

Following an hour-long break, the next run of shows  is from 5pm to 7pm, and is priced at RM15, featuring acts like Dung, Elektrikasyok (Elaine Foster), Furniture, Furious George + Operasi Sabo, Illya Sumanto, Krisis Halusinasi, Priya K and Think! Tadpole! Think!
Part of the show  (in the evening, it has been told) will be hosted by amazon goddess and local drag icon, SHELAH, who would surely be helping to rev up the crowd in her own inimitable way. SHELAH hosts the 8pm to 10pm show, featuring Dara Othman, Davina Goh, Ferns, Kathleen Choo, KG, Meichern, Nabila Nasir, PT's Angels, Reza Salleh, Sheena, Tanjong, Tshiung Han See.  Chi Too & the Buka Kolektif will also make an appearance at
the event.

While door prices have been specified, guests and visitors are also encouraged to donate more if they so wish in order to support the cause.  I believe (And will confirm in an update on Facebook and/or here) US Skin Grafx tattoo prizes will be auctioned at the 5pm to 7pm slots, and 8pm to 10pm slots.

Justice for Sisters is a human rights campaign, done at the grassroots level. It is organised by concerned members of the public to raise awareness about issues surrounding violence and persecution against the Mak Nyah community in Malaysia. The campaign also aims to raise funds amounting to RM50,000 to finance court cases that have recently been brought up against transgenders currently charged by the Syariah Court. This is the second

such Justice for Sisters event. The inaugural one was held successfully at the Annexe Gallery in Central Market a few weeks ago.

If you can't make it to the festival but would like to donate to the fund or help in other ways, please contact Angela [angela@kryss.org] or Thilaga [thilaga.sulathireh@gmail.com] or let us know via e-mail (us.skin.grafx@gmail.com) so we can help you liaise with them.

THANK YOU FOR READING AND WE HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!!!!

The Cracked Stone Butterfly

EK:   Ling and I have been friends for about six years. We were first, workmates -- me, newly-transferred after having spent five years doing loads of legwork and city stories from another section, and she, having just joined the company.

It didn't take long for us to become friends. As a friend, you really couldn't ask for a better person -- she's steadfast, rational, loyal and infinitely supportive. And an uber-foodie (always a good thing in my book)!

In the time when I was inking in the United States though, we've not always kept in contact. We would just write the occasional "Hi, how are you doing?" e-mail to one another.When we touched down in July, she was one of the first people I spoke to, and she organised a welcome home dinner at Tropicana City Mall -- one that brought together "the old gang". Since then, we've tried to get everyone together for a good chowdown every once in a while, and each time, the saying "a good time was had by all" held true.

I was a little surprised when she mentioned that she already had her first tattoo -- a pretty little piece of Celtic knotwork -- and was looking for a second one. Quite frankly, Ling didn't strike me as the type who would ever get ink, which shows you what an ass I've made of myself from making presumptions, even upon a good friend. As for picking what she picked, and how it came about, I'll just let Randy tell you about it.

Randy: When Ling mentioned butterflies, I immediately reflected back on a piece I drew up years ago that held great significance for me. It was a butterfly that evolved from cracked and crumbling stone into full color.

I had been looking for the right person to wear the design; someone that understood that we all start out in this world weighted to the earth, where we must keep ourselves strong, and take the punishment that life and learning throws our way until the day comes when we achieve, through the lessons we have learned, the ability to fly, without the need for stone armor.

While I have not known Ling very long, or in great detail, something about this young lady strikes a chord there. Or, to be more precise, many things about her, from her personality as described by my wife in the paragraphs above, to the smile that takes over every feature of her face at simple, seemingly insignificant things overlooked by those who are still firmly seated in the stonework phase.

We discussed the design, and it was clear to me that she got it, without me having to explain it's intended meaning. After many, many years, and dozens of conversations with people who wanted butterfly tattoos, I finally met someone who understood. And, she wanted to wear the design!

I was a little concerned after looking over my drawing. There were some very very small details that absolutely *must* be in the finished product, which meant doing some of the work with the two most brutal needles in the tattooist's arsenal, a three and a single. I take a lot of pride having gentle hands, and have always been of the belief that the less tattoos hurt, the more people will enjoy the entirety of the experience. But singles and threes are painful even in the most gentle of hands. Ling took it like a champ, staying virtually motionless regardless of what needle I was using at the time.

(EK: Ling had worried about the pain factor earlier, so I cleared my tattoo schedule to be able to help out. She didn't need any, as it turned out. We spent the majority of her tat session yakking with Susan aka Spitfire Sus who'd dropped by to say hi. Randy spent the majority of his tat session...lost in his work.)

I Am also a firm believer that time should not be a factor when it comes to artwork, and as the tattoo began to take shape on her skin, I made a few alterations, some for better fit to the body part, some for more visual interest, some that just felt, well, "right". As the detail began to appear, I enjoyed the mental shift into what I call "Artspace", and the myriad perceptive changes that shift brings with it. Before long, three and a half
hours had passed, and I was looking at the results of my efforts. And again, there was the smile I described earlier, simply glowing in her eyes, as she looked at the finished product in the mirror.

Do we, as artists, get caught up in our work? I'd have to say, "Yes!", but then that's the difference between an artist and someone who can draw, paint, sculpt, or work in any of the artistic mediums; the passion. And like many other artists I know, the passion for what we do is the point of doing it. We all start out trying to impress people with our skill, but there comes that time, if we persist in growing as artists, where the passion flowing through us as we create is the ultimate rush. It's that instant where time stops, where perception overtakes logic, where judgments are replaced by a world composed entirely of subtle nuances that cannot be described in words.

I have to say, working with Ling, and doing this tattoo sated my addiction to the rush.