The Legs of Uncle Jaiwa and his Friend

This work show's the artist's husband's uncle and a friend. They are from the Karen tribe of Northern Thailand. Traditionally, Karen men were tattooed from the waist to the knee. It was a kind of initiation rite to manhood which has since died out. People believe that the cat motifs (tigers) give the bearer the qualities of the tiger; quiet while walking through the jungle and success at hunting. When she made this piece, Angus embroidered around the edge of the tattoo. Her needle and thread traced the mark making of the tattoo needle. She beaded the background of the work so that the foreground would really stand out.