One can now leave a part of himself when he dies – in the form of a preserved and framed tattoo, that is.
A new service called Save my Ink allows people to have their tattooed skin cut when they die and framed for their loved ones.
It is run by the National Association for the Preservation of Skin Art (NAPSA), a nonprofit membership association of tattoo artists and enthusiasts that has developed a method of preserving tattoos.
“[Y]our story, your spirit, and your legacy can live on, for generations to come,” according to the NAPSA website.
NAPSA chairman Charles Hamm, a certified public accountant, who has background in business, built his own large tattoo collection and invested “over 50 hours of pain” on his skin art. The association was created when he read actor Johnny Depp states his wish of tattoo preservation and saying, “My body is my journal and my tattoos are my story."
“We are also constantly working to provide our members with support, promotion, and education,” Hamm added.
The preservation is done through a proprietary process that permanently changes the chemical structure, therefore preventing decomposition and “preserving the integrity of the art,” explained NAPSA.
The service is available only to NAPSA members, who pay for an initial joining fee and an annual membership fee. After registering, someone who wants to have his or her tattoo preserved can accomplish online forms and designate a beneficiary.
The person can ensure his or her tattoo art is preserved with NAPSA’s Final Wish Fulfillment Benefit, which offers the designated loved one with up to $2,000 for carrying out the final wish of tattoo preservation.
Once the member dies, the funeral home will receive a kit that comprises the equipment needed for recovering, temporarily preserving, and securely shipping the cut tattoo to NAPSA, which will then return the art to the beneficiary three to six months afterwards.
In early 2015, Mark died with the wish to preserve his body art post-mortem, and his loved one Linda was assigned as the beneficiary.
“I’m so proud of him, and I know he wanted to leave something positive on this earth… As I thought about it more, it’s just a different way of keeping a part of somebody close to you,” said Linda in a testimonial.
NAPSA also showcases user-shared tattoo imagery, convention listings, verified artist profiles, industry news and content, and discussion forums.
Photo: Jhong Dizon | Flickr
