‘I get evil looks’: Jenna proud of every single tattoo

It’s the generation of body art.

Men and women of all ages paying big bucks to ink their skin as a form of self expression and individuality.

Ironically, the practice of tattooing, once reserved for the more daring of individuals, has become so widespread that it’s more the norm than the exception in today’s society.

The tattoos themselves however are still as individual as their owners and often paint a picture of lives lived, love lost and futures yet to be shaped.

Jenna Rosiak says tattoos are brutally painful, yet extremely addictive.

Her artwork represents the bonds she has with her family members.

“A favourite tattoo is one of my nephew born 10 weeks early and we nearly lost him a few times.

“I would probably say that would be my favourite one,” the 26-year-old aged care nurse said.

”You just find one or think of something to do with your life or your family.

“A bit of my back is to do with my background on my dad’s side for my nan.

“Another one, my mum always wanted a tattoo when she was young, of a blue bird.

“She never got it so I decided to get it for her. 

“I have my nan’s necklace on my foot. If I lost the real one I’d have it with me.”

Jenna says people stare at her a lot.

“I get evil looks, their mouths drops, like ‘look how many she’s got’.”

But she expresses herself in her body art and is proud of every single needle mark.

Initially she was motivated to get just one, but “then i just kept going and couldn’t stop”.

Despite her addiction, she warns anyone planning a large piece of artwork and hours under the needle to pack the numbing cream.

​”The most painful would have been on my lower legs they felt like a scalpel,” she says.

But then again, they all hurt.

The Mercury’s More Than Skin Deep series is the brainchild of Mercury photographer Sylvia Liber.

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