TOKYO-2018 People / Culture

Inked

  • Prize
    Bronze in People/Culture
  • Photographer
    Tanya Sharapova
  • Agency / Studio
    Tanya Sharapova
  • Technical Info
    Canon Mark Iv, 24-70 Ii
  • Photo Date
    February-March 2017

Faces of Myanmar women in Chin state are covered with tattoos, in most cases, it has been done against their will. Tattoos were done by old technology by thin wooden sticks, without any painkillers, when these women were young girls at the age 4-15 years old. Some of these women are embarrassed about their face, some got accustomed and love themselves. Myanmar government banned making tattoos in 1975, but some tattoo masters made tattoos for girls despite the ban. The youngest girl with the tattoo I met is now 28 years old.