BURN BLACK Blog

Hand Tattoos…

Mi Vida Loca...

I love hand tattoos I really do and would love to get mine done at some point of my life but it's a bit of a terrifying step to make. Until I muster up the courage to get them done (need to get my sleeves done first - yes I'm old school).  In the meantime I've been collecting the odd knuckle tattoo now and then. It started a few years ago when I asked Rob Hoskins at Idle Hands, after he'd done a session on my arm to quickly do the circular part of the Einstürzende Neubauten logo which he did in grey wash for me. Not many people noticed it and one of my friends even thought I drew it on every day which made me chuckle, especially since most of the time I can't be bothered to wear make up never mind draw on myself.

The next knuckle tattoo came about after I'd been working for Bez for a short while and as I'd been thinking about it purely for comedy reasons I got the vintage rainbow Apple logo done on my "flipping off" finger. Reason being that it is, hands down the cutest of all the Apple logos in my opinion and at the time I lived with my ex. He's a PC nerd and used to rib me for using Macs (until I sold him my old PowerBook and he got an iPod Touch - heh heh) and vice versa. It was funny when every time he got the blue screen or his computer would freeze to do the "V" whilst stroking my face and going "awww shame".

Next up was the All Seeing Eye of Barbie done by Demon at Triple Six. It started off as I had wanted an Eye of Providence tattoo for ages, I then decided on getting it done in pink and then *it* decided it needed girlie eyelashes hence it's name.

I've also had a finger tashe done by my good friend Lisa but it desperately needs redoing.  It'll get done eventually. Bloody hurts though.

Last but not least, when Demon was re-doing my Eye of Barbie knuckle the other week I got him to give me Mi Vida Loca dots. It's pretty interesting how the three dots have different meanings depending on where in the world you are. I got it done for the same reason Hispanic kids get it. To Vietnamese kids it means tôi ? c?n gì c? (I need nothing) and in France 'Mort Aux Vaches' (Death to Cows, the cows signifying Police). The best explanation I found on the internet was here.  Further research has shown its popular with members of the Freemasons and the Russian Mafia by all accounts as well.

The original three dot represents a gang member gangbanging with each other as equals. Adding two more dots represents a gangster who earn the right to command others or a senior gang member known as an "OG", original gangster. One surrounded by others in protection. As a Sureño (gang) symbol, the tattoo is worn between thumb and forefinger because it is believed to be harder to remove. The Sureño gang number is thirteen, using Arabic or Roman numerals, or a combination of both: 13, XIII, or X3. This signifies the 13th letter of the alphabet, the letter M, meaning "La Eme" or "The M"; the Mexican Mafia. Numerals are also incorporated into the tattoos, such as Tres Puntos ("Three dots") or X3, which is the representation for the number 13 within the Aztec numeral system.[citation needed] This may explain the origins of the tattoo amongst Hispanic gang members. However, along with the pachuco cross, the three dots is also a popular "generic" tattoo among Hispanic teenagers with no gang involvement whatsoever.

This is also popular in German prisons among current and former convicts as a symbol of their time done behind bars. Generally it implies the person does not know, see or hear anything and has therefore no information for the police. This tattoo also usually appears on the skin between the thumb and forefinger. Also for some groups it means 'I hate cops.'

In France, the dots stand for 'Mort Aux Vaches', literally 'Death to cows', in slang 'Death to cops'. It can also be interpreted as '**** the World'. In Greece, the three dots in a triangle signify affiliation with anarchist beliefs/ideals (The three dots can be seen as points of the letter "A", the symbol for many anarchists around the world).

The three dots in a triangle are also used as a protective symbol for hobos, sailors, and convicts, known as "hobo dots." Among sailors it's a traditional tattoo to get on their first voyage.

The three dots in a triangle are also used widely in the southeast region of Turkey as a symbol of being one of the tribesmen. The three dot symbol is known as "Gormem, Duymam, Soylemem" meaning that "I hear nothing, I see nothing and I tell nothing". Bearing this mark is an oath to the person's own society, and requires great responsibility such as being willing to sacrifice himself in favor of the society.

Another thing I'd like to add here as well whilst I'm on the subject.  A few months ago I went for a pretty good job and for the interview I attempted to cover my tattoos.  I was wearing a long sleeved shirt, suit jacket, trousers and wore my hair down so that the only visable ink that was showing was my fingers.  Whilst I was putting my make up on I decided to try and cover these tattoos up with my foundation and concealer which I did but it was horrifying.  Yes the make up had worked but it was if my hands weren't my own anymore as they looked rather alien to me.  It was weird not seeing the tattoos there when I looked down at my hands and as soon as the interview was over I washed the make up off and got my hands back.  I didn't get the job either.