Artist offers free tattoos to empower abuse survivors

Flavia Carvelho hopes her artwork will give the women a self-esteem boost. Photo / via Facebook

A Brazilian tattoo artist is helping victims of domestic violence heal by covering up their scars with beautiful works of body art for free.

Flavia Carvalho's project, "A Pele da Flor" or the "Skin of the Flower", aims to transform the way women cope with the scars they have received from domestic abuse.

Carvalho, 31, from Curitiba, aims to give her clients, including those whose scars are a result of mastectomies, a boost in their self-esteem by creating an empowering piece of art on their bodies.

Flavia Carvalho aims to transform the way women cope with their scars. Photo / via Facebook

The woman pictured above had a scar caused by a bullet fired by her ex-boyfriend, but the cherry blossom that now covers it is a 'symbol of femininity' and the beauty of life. Photo / via Facebook

The idea came for the project came to her two years ago after she was touched by a client's story, who had wanted to cover up a large scar she had on her abdomen.

"She told me that she was at a nightclub, and she turned down a man who approached her, he stabbed her with a switchblade," Carvalho told the Huffington Post.

"When she saw the finished tattoo, she was extremely moved, and that deeply touched me.

"I was suddenly struck by the idea of providing free tattoos to women who were left with scars following domestic violence or mastectomies.

"Each tattoo would act as an instrument for empowerment and a self-esteem booster".

To spread awareness for her cause, Carvalho uses her Facebook page to share before and after pictures of the scars.

Alongside the pictures, she tells the women's stories and how they received their injuries.

Carvelho says she has been contacted by women from all over the world since launching her project. Photo / via Facebook

And since launching her project, Carvalho says she has been contacted by women from all over the world.

She added: "The sense of affection, sisterhood and camaraderie is deeper than I ever imagined.

"They come to the studio, share their stories of pain and resilience and they show me their scars."

In a post on her page, she added: "I have no words to describe the happiness that I feel with all the feedback that I have received.

"Women feeling welcomed with the idea - telling their stories of pain and overcoming that make me cry like a child in front of the computer.

"Girls of 14 and 15 years that have been raped and wondering what to do, coming to me asking for guidance."

But she adds that her project is one small step towards a much bigger goal.

"It is a grain of sand," she said. "The world is full of things that need to be addressed.

"We have a long way to go regarding protecting women against violence."

- Daily Mail