Ethan, an Australian, had almost all of his body, including his face, covered with tattoos until lately. No one, not even Ethan, the self-described “curator” of his tattooed collection, could confirm that he had 200 tattoos. It was almost hard to tell where one design ended and another started because they were so beautifully merged together.
Ethan’s makeover started with extended earlobes when he was just eleven years old. He later went one step further and split his tongue to create the appearance of a snake. His pursuit of what he referred to as a “pure canvas” included even the removal of his navel remains, which prepared the way for the variety of tattoos that came after.
But after his daughter was born, everything was different. Ethan suddenly started to wonder if it was worth it to paint his torso and face with a sea of ink. He has been going through the difficult process of getting the tattoos removed from his face for more than a year now—a laborious reverse of what he previously rejoiced in. It has not been an easy path. So far, Ethan has undergone seven painful laser removal procedures. Following each treatment, the recuperation period has been equally taxing.
At first look, it could appear that Ethan is returning to his true nature and has finally accepted reason. However, his claim that he is “restoring the canvas” rather than purifying his body raises questions. It raises questions about his genuine aims by implying that they could not be wholly grounded in practical considerations.
