Tattoo You

SA STREETER, who is from Belgium, is probably one of the strangest-looking avatars you will meet, but he sees this strangeness as a perfect vehicle to express his artistic nature.

When his previous work as a designer of clothes failed to excite him any more, Sa said that he decided to make tattoos to personal design because he loves seeing avatars who are different from the others. In only four weeks, he now has people coming back for repeat orders of his individual designs.

This is enhanced by him having two avatars out as he said, "Doing an excellent job in promoting his work."

"... it is strange, but some people don't even ask to see my work," he observed when we spoke at his beachfront tattoo stall. "They just trust me. They come from all over the world - some Asian customers, a lot from the U.S.A and also Europe."

One customer has come back 17 times for more tattoos.

Most popular designs, according to Sa, are for the upper body, the breast or the back and include a name.

"People want the name of their lover with a picture of something - either to wear or to give away. Tribals are also very popular."

Another of his specialties are "full permission tattoos" which can be used by nightclubs or businesses to promote themselves by giving away tattoos of their logo for customers to wear on their bodies.

He explained that people can send him designs of their own choosing, maybe something they have got from the internet and he turns it into a tattoo.

Further negotiations are undertaken in regard to colour, size, place on body, price and delivery date.

"Prices start at 150L and can go up to a maximum of 1,000L for a special design," he stated, "and that's a lot cheaper than what other designers ask for a custom tattoo."

Some people have very specific requirements.

"Some days ago, someone ordered a tattoo for the ass," said Sa. "On the right part he wanted a couple having sex, doggy style and the girl had to have brown hair and cup size B or C."

It is obvious that Sa is as interested in creating himself as an artist, as he is in his work as a tattooist. He referred to himself as "my player" and "the one that handles me in real life."

All through our interview I had tried to ignore the 'strangeness' of his appearance because it was obvious that he loved being creative. Finally my curiosity got the better of me and I had to ask the tactless question. "What on earth was he thinking when he designed himself that way?"

Except I asked a little more delicately:

"Because you are a designer, I am interested in the design you have chosen for your avatar."

"Most people say my avatar looks strange," he admitted, "and I must say that is the truth. I have searched for something that looked strange because I am an artist, and artists look strange."

"I wanted to look different. That is my mission in second life - to make people look different from others."

Sa balances the creativity of his second life, with his work in real life as a social worker, working with families of children with behavioural problems.

To promote his business, Sa will be running a competition over the next ten days where people send in their pics of their favourite tattoos - either on themselves or somebody else. Two winners will be chosen and give a free tattoo each - everyone will be notified of the results by Sa. To enter, just send your pic and the name of the avatar to: sa_streeter@yahoo.com



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