Tattoo artist is helping survivors of domestic abuse cover their scars

29.05.2020 09:34

A Brazilian tattoo artist is helping victims of domestic violence heal by covering up their scars with beautiful works of body art for free.

Flavia Carvalho’s project, ‘A Pele da Flor’ or the ‘Skin of the Flower’, aims to transform the way women cope with the scars they have received from domestic abuse.

Carvalho, 31, from Curitiba, aims to give her clients, including those whose scars are a result of mastectomies, a boost in their self-esteem by creating an empowering piece of art on their bodies.

The idea came for the project came to her two years ago after she was touched by a client’s story, who had wanted to cover up a large scar she had on her abdomen.

‘She told me that she was at a nightclub, and she turned down a man who approached her, he stabbed her with a switchblade,’ Carvalho told the Huffington Post.

‘When she saw the finished tattoo, she was extremely moved, and that deeply touched me.

‘I was suddenly struck by the idea of providing free tattoos to women who were left with scars following domestic violence or mastectomies.

‘Each tattoo would act as an instrument for empowerment and a self-esteem booster’.

To spread awareness for her cause, Carvalho uses her Facebook page to share before and after pictures of the scars.

Alongside the pictures, she tells the women’s stories and how they received their injuries.

And since launching her project, Carvalho says she has been contacted by women from all over the world.

She added: ‘The sense of affection, sisterhood and camaraderie is deeper than I ever imagined.

‘They come to the studio, share their stories of pain and resilience and they show me their scars.’

In a post on her page, she added: ‘I have no words to describe the happiness that I feel with all the feedback that I have received.

(dailymail.co.uk)