FROM THEORY TO PRACTICE

“No matter what they tell you, ideas can change the world.” - Robin Williams

I find myself asking these questions often: Is the world a better place because I exist? Is the land I inhabit healthier and more resilient because I live there? Are my friends and comrades more vigorous and powerful because I have entered into a relationship with them?

The same can be asked within the context of tattooing; Is tattoo culture a better place because I exist within it? Is the shop I work at more resilient and functional because I work there? Are my coworkers and clients more vigorous and powerful because I have entered into a relationship with them?

I honestly don't know and won't pretend to have absolute answers to these questions. In reality “sometimes” is probably the most honest response. I do however hold many ideas that guide and motivate my decisions and methodologies while attempting to navigate these questions in practice. Though most often the best of questions only lead to more questioning.

Ideas are simply points of departure, explorations of experimentation, vulnerable to failure with no guarantees. They are, by definition, groundless suppositions, intentions and impressions. I am not in the least bit interested in dogmatic fundamentalism or the dominance of monolithic and absolutist ideologies. Do you have ideas, or do ideas have you?

So when the above questions move from existential to pragmatic that's when the best ideas begin to foment. How can I make the world/tattoo culture a better place by existing within it? How can I help the land I inhabit/the shop I work at become healthier, more functional and more resilient? How can I encourage and influence my coworkers, clients, friends and comrades to become more vigorous and powerful?

Again, I honestly don't know and won't pretend to have absolute answers to these questions. I am only armed with ideas and there's nothing more dangerous than an idea whose time has come.