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Two women from different parts of the world share the stories of their lives

Two women from different parts of the world, united by a common passion, experience or expertise, share the stories of their lives.

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The Conversation: Turning scars into body art

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Tattoo artists Tran Ngoc and Madlyne Van Looy

30/01/2023 GMT

Turning scars into body art

BBC World Service - The Conversation, Turning scars into body art

Madlyne Van Looy from Berlin and Tran Ngoc from Hanoi on tattoo art and women’s scars

Tattoo artists Madlyne Van Looy from Germany and Tran Ngoc from Vietnam tell Kim Chakanetsa about transforming women’s scars with art.

There are many reasons someone might choose to get a tattoo – it could be a cultural or a simple fashion statement. Sometimes it’s a creative way to cover up a scar. Kim Chakanetsa talks to two women transforming burns, self-harm cuts and surgery scars into body art, helping women reclaim their bodies.

Tran Ngoc is based in Hanoi, Vietnam. Known as ‘Ngoc Like’, Tran started covering scars with her art when she was 19, and is the only female Vietnamese tattoo artist to specialise in transformation. She bases her designs on the personality of her clients, and loves to use colour.

Madlyne Van Looy is from Berlin, Germany. Madlyne is currently touring Europe in a van, guesting in studios as she travels. Her art consists of black and white nature designs, influenced by her traveling. She speaks to us from Italy.

Produced by Lorna Treen

(Image: (L) Tran Ngoc, courtesy Tran Ngoc. (R) Madlyne Van Looy, courtesy Madlyne Van Looy.)

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