INKclination to alleviate pain

Suresh Machu, a 27-year-old tattoo artiste from Bengaluru offers discounted prices and free touch-ups for people with self-harm scars from their past. He also works on breast cancer survivors by constructing 3D nipples free of cost. Here’s why the artist wants to help so many people.

Suresh Machu believes that his only aim in life is to help people through his art, he explains, “As a child, I wanted to become a doctor but due to a financial setback, and not being able to make it through the cut-off percentage, I chose to become a software engineer.”

While he did enjoy a decent salary working in a software firm, he felt his love and passion for art could help him achieve his dream of changing lives. Putting a bold step forward, Suresh quit his job as a business analyst at a reputed software firm and without the support of his family, pursued his passion for tattooing.

A birthmark covered by a tattoo.

From offering free home services, and using only organic permanent tattoo ink pre-sterilised and imported from the US, his studio gives top-notch services at nominal rates. After a series of certification courses in tattooing and a specified certification course at Miami Ink, Suresh mastered the art of scar cover-up too.

He shares the memory that lead him to master the art of scar cover up, “A young girl came to the studio with a scar on her face, and requested if something could be done as she was being rejected by several marriage proposals because of the mark. Seeing a sister in her, I attempted to tone her skin with a process called micro-pigmentation. This process worked, and she is now happily married. The smile I saw on her face inspired me to help more people”

We hear a lot of jargon about scars, and how people believe their scars shaped them to be who they are today. In our life, we all tend to get hurt and heal soon most of the time. It is also true that a scar is a good proof of how remarkable our body is at reviving from trauma.

But, for people who use self-destruction as a method to cope with depression, rejuvenating from that scar is an achievement.  

Periyasamy, 27, a survivor of depression explains, “After a painful heartbreak, I chose to cut myself to come out of the pain and that was the most imbecile thing to do. I know now for sure. I realised that I wanted to fight back and close this gloomy chapter of my life. So I began to try several scar removal options. This was all in vain, and I decided to turn my painful scars to an expression of art. After several days of surfing the Internet, and contemplating on different tattoo artists, I decided to go with Suresh. He was a very warm person, and I could say that he helped me out of my depressed phase. He even checked on me after the sessions.”

Suresh Machu has been creating miracles in the life of several youngsters with his passion and humanity. “I don’t do this for money, I only do this because I understand pain and want to help put a smile on people’s faces.”