Fear no man— but once you see a confident woman walking her way to success with killer heels and a gentle smile, we suggest you run.
Shrugging off all the expectations set by society, Kishan Garcia, a.k.a “Kishaninks,” is a Filipina queer artist who found herself in the comforts of tattoo artistry. Her art style screams elegance, visual, and spiritual combined, requiring conscious thoughts on the process.
She finished her Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering at the University of the Philippines-Los Baños and eventually decided to pursue a career that would not hold her potential back. Kishan believes that tattooing is a form of self-expression and is something that she wants to share with others.
In an interview with Garcia, she gracefully unfolded her journey and gave her fair share of wisdom.
“I want to do that for other people. I want to have people know that they have this autonomy, and they have this choice [of] what to do with their bodies”, she said.
Of course, embracing one’s identity is not an easy task. Not to mention the confusion that a person has to endure along the way.
The tattoo queen gets her early childhood inspiration from Lady Gaga. She considers the iconic pop diva as someone who made her realize that there’s nothing wrong with being herself.
However, despite the recognition that the LGBTQ+ community receives today, it is still not enough, as gender continues to hinder people from attaining equal rights. Discrimination prospers as much as unnecessary violence.
“I've had a lot of experiences… During the times that I was looking for a job in the chemical engineering industry, it was really hard for someone like me to find and land a job that basically accepts me for who I am or something that I found could be a place where I could grow. I didn't find that,” Kishan said.
These experiences are included in the list of the things that she wants to eradicate in this lifetime to improve the world.
“It's something I look forward to pursuing and pushing at the front of the fight,” she added.
When it comes to expressing herself, she said that she’s not afraid to show who she really is. Her challenges lean more on internal struggles, given the vast ideas she considers for her art. Kishan thinks of ways on how she can pour all the values and the things in her heart into every craft she makes.
To improve her designs, Kishan spends most of her time considering different factors with her clients. In a way, she helps them to be more expressive.
“I want my art to evolve into something very provocative, (very something that shouts something)… You look, and okay, this is where she's coming from. This is what's happening in her world. This is what she's into right now,” Kishan said.
With nothing but queen behavior, Kishan built a mighty castle out of all the rocks thrown at her by life. She believes that it is best to sometimes sit on the challenges and do what she has to do with genuine intentions.
Now, she strives in a male-dominated field, using her gender identity as leverage.
Being a transwoman comes with a gift of creativity. She also said that it became easier for her to overcome everything once she realized how people live and breathe as one. Humanity collectively perseveres like how all nature moves in harmony.
Kishan is indeed just another individual like us who is not exempted from encountering gloomy days. Nevertheless, she treats every decision she has made as a lesson learned.
“When it comes to regretting, it’s a thing of the past, and things of the past are meant to be in the past,” she admitted.
As for the women who have yet to find their art style and voice to speak up, Kishan’s advice is to start small and light. Begin with the people who love you and believe in you. From there, you will realize that there is no pressure and everything you do matters.
“Just say when you start something, you can't go there head-on. It's a learning process,” she said.
Excited to open another chapter of her life, Kishan is building a community with her best friend in Los Baños and preparing to put up a creative safe space called Sacred Space that will be both an art space and a yoga studio.
As we celebrate National Women’s Month, let us ask ourselves how we define a woman. Is it someone fragile? Is it someone who’s only born with a female genital organ? Or maybe, someone whose love defies gravity?
Whatever that is, we cannot deny the fact that women bring warmth to this world and make everyday life more bearable. They are what we need today and forever, regardless of who or what they are.
To see her works and better connect with her, make sure to follow her on Instagram: @kishaning for personal and @kishaninks for tattoos, and her Facebook page, Kishan Garcia.
So, tell us. How would you define a woman? Share your thoughts with us!
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