Queerifying the Classics
The Sky Wrapped in Darkness
she promises to follow her
like a flock of wild arrows.
for the first time, they'll see
the sky unfold from darkness,
milky-way of glitter.
for the first time, they'll fall
to their knees, like stars
with their points on fire.
she promises to make her
more alive than the morning
light on leaves, the smell
of eucalypti in springtime.
for the first time, she promises,
they'll follow something seasonal,
and take breath-catching risks.
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Taking Ekphrasis One Step Further
'The Sky Wrapped in Darkness' is the first poem and artwork from my series 'Queerifying The Classics'.
This series writes back to Pablo Neruda's Twenty Love Poems and a Song of Dispair.
The artwork was made available for Pride Month Tattoo Flash
I have always been obsessed with ekphrasis, as a means of speaking to—not for— different forms of art. For me, ekphrasis is always a collaboration between image and word. It was magical to take this collaboration further to include skin as a medium and client as additional collaborator.
For me this layered collaboration was a form of alchemy transforming imagery, narrative, ancient practices and experiences of marginalised voices into contemporary body art.
'Queerifying the Classics' was my attempt at subverting the gatekeepers of the mainstream tattoo industry, which is predominantly white, cisgendered and male. The tattoo industry is inherently problematic for people of colour, women and LGBTQ. However, there is hope. There is a wave of new artists who are redefining the culture of tattoo, inclusivity and representation within this industry.
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End Note
Body modification today is a paradoxical form of individuality, self-expression, anarchy, identification, connection, community and belonging.
As a cultural practice, tattooing has existed since the Bronze Age and continues in various contemporary cultures and sub-cultures. Tattooing was not invented and cannot be owned by white people.
The era of gatekeeping is coming to an end.
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Stevi-Lee Alver is an Australian writer and tattoo artist. She lives in the middle of Brazil with her wife. She loves bush walks and waterfalls but misses the ocean.
About the Creator
Stevi-Lee Alver
Australian writer and tattoo artist based in Brazil. 🏳️🌈🏳️🌈🏳️🌈
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