Stuck between two worlds, the tattoo studio is the only place this trans artist can live her truth
With her hair tied in a high ponytail, Bruna bends over a client, using her vibrant and outgoing personality to keep them comfortable and amused during their time together.The services offered at the Inkspace Studio in New Delhi’s bustling Hauz Khas neighborhood are similar to those provided by other tattoo studios in the area.
But the artist is unique. 27-year-old Bruna has two lives. When catering to clients in her studio, she is a woman with an outgoing personality.
But once she leaves her studio for home, she adopts the identity of a man, Akshay. While she works hard every day, juggling two different worlds is draining.Three years ago, she was hired as a manager at the studio.
Bruna always had a fascination for art and slowly fell in love with tattooing. After a three-month course, she started working as a tattoo artist. “You will find many trans women who are dancers and makeup artists,” she tells LGBTQ Nation. “I realized there were hardly any trans women who were tattoo artists in India.
