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Patrick’s Perfumes – frankincense for that mystical scent
by Patrick Bardelli
T A T O W I E R T or how Ganesha came to be on my arm
5.12.2018
Translation: machine translated
I had to pluck up my courage. Back then. In November 1991, because my mate Alex and I were getting tattoos. We were young, a little naive and a little drunk when we sat in the tattoo parlour on a foggy November evening.
At number one in the Swiss annual charts 1991: "Wind Of Change" by the Scorpions. They were playing on the radio on an endless loop with Roxette and Bryan Adams. And I was sitting in a gloomy cellar with my trousers full. An hour and a lot of sweat later, I was tattooed. The motif: a rose.
So cheesy, a rose, you're probably thinking now. Well, not everyone had tattoos back then. A tattoo was still the exception and a bit disreputable, tribals and tramp stamps weren't out yet. And besides, the Scorpions, Roxette and Bryan Adams were played up and down on the radio all day long. All in all, it was a pretty cheesy time. Back then.
1991 - 2018
Today, 27 years later, cheesy no longer works. That's clear. I need a new tattoo. And so, on this gloomy November morning, I sit very soberly in a tattoo parlour and have Liné Hammett engrave a new motif over my little flower. The radio plays nothing but metal during the whole session. Including from Living Colour. That makes me happy, because I like Living Colour's music. Their 1990 album "Time's Up" is one of the best in alternative metal. But that's another story. Now it's about Ganesha.
Why Ganesha?
There are various legends about the origin of Ganesha. One of them says that he is the son of Shiva and Parvati. Ganesha bestows success at work. He is described as a kind, humorous, clever, playful and mischievous Hindu god who often plays pranks. He is one of the most important, popular and accessible gods in India and is worshipped at almost every roadside shrine. In many depictions, he is accompanied by his mount, a mouse or a rat. And I just love the way Ganesha looks at me.
Ink and more
Memories of my first tattoo session are hazy. Today is different. I want to soak up the experience. The pain, the smell of the incense sticks and the conversations with Liné. We talk about her work as a tattoo artist, about travelling and about music. Her boyfriend is the bassist and singer in a metal band that is quite successful in the USA, among other places. And we chat about sport. Liné comes from Norway. She grew up on the Holmenkollen.
Cross-country skiing is a national sport in Norway and Liné knows all about it. Her eyes sparkle when she talks about the rivalry between Norway and Sweden on the cross-country ski trails. Her mother still lives on Oslo's legendary local mountain. The Norwegian cross-country skiing icon Marit Bjørgen is her neighbour. Then we fall silent again. Liné tattoos, I focus on the pain, in the background the guys from Destruction give their all.
The pain
Is tattooing actually painful? This question cannot be answered per se. I think everyone has their own perception of pain. What's more, not all areas of the body are equally sensitive, and the shoulder and upper arm are comparatively insensitive. And yet I've had enough after just under five hours. It's strange. The individual needle pricks don't hurt much, and if they do, then only briefly. And yet the pain seems to build up over the hours and remain in the body. It's like an uphill climb. I can't describe it any better. And finally Liné says: "That's it, we're done!"
Somewhere I read recently that the ink has a preservative effect. If that's true, Ganesha will be the last thing left of me when I'm two metres underground. I think that has a certain charm. Thanks Liné!
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Patrick Bardelli
Senior Editor
Patrick.Bardelli@digitecgalaxus.chFrom radio journalist to product tester and storyteller, jogger to gravel bike novice and fitness enthusiast with barbells and dumbbells. I'm excited to see where the journey'll take me next.
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