Form and Flow

Form and Flow – Body as Story is a project that encompasses eight large-scale tattoos, each one an exploration of the personal narratives of the individual collaborators, reinterpreted by Jai into intricate works of art.

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Inspired by the traditions of Arabic and Chinese illustration, Jai uses the human body as a canvas, creating tattoos that reveal their detailed story elements from various perspectives, symbolising the fluid and dynamic nature of personal identity.

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The project emphasises the performative nature of tattooing, allowing the process of tattoo creation to inform and sculpt the transformation of the wearer. The body is not just a canvas but an integral part of the storytelling process, with each piece designed to unfold its narrative as the wearer moves. This approach highlights the intimate connection between art and life and the way tattoos can both express and shape the identity of the wearer.

Jai’s work considers how tattoos both express and influence identity, and how that identity is shaped by the lived experience, the culture we live within and the constantly shifting themes, symbols and ideas we encounter through other people.

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The eight projects featured in Form and Flow – Body as Story were developed collaboratively with the people who wear them. These tattoos are more than visual art; they are deeply personal stories interpreted and illustrated by Jai. Her creative process involves eliciting narratives from her collaborators and integrating them with her observations, resulting in artistic expressions that resonate with both the wearer and the viewer.

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The project invites viewers to explore the transformative power of tattoos and their ability to convey complex personal narratives. It challenges the perception of tattoos as mere decoration, presenting them instead as expressions of the human experience.

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