The minimalist tattoos Bruna inks on her patrons are an extension of what she is inside out – bold, beautiful and yet divinely simple. Whether it’s her fascination for tattooing needles, her infinite love for her pet or her journey as a transwoman, she is a free-spirited individual in every sense of the word. Someone who rightly rechristened herself as Bruna Freespirit! A special feature by Asrashaheen.in
Her creative instincts are unstoppable but her spirits are invincible. What instantly strikes you about Bruna at the first glance is her confidence, grace, and style as she walks around her familiar surroundings. Inkspace Studio is the tattoo art space where she found her calling as an artist a couple of years ago. The minimalist line art and blackwork tattoos she inks on her patrons are an extension of what she is inside out – bold, beautiful and yet divinely simple. Whether it’s her fascination for tattooing needles or her infinite love for Astro, her Golden Retriever pet, Bruna is a free-spirited individual in every sense of the word.
When She Held the Mirror up to “Herself” & Chose to Step Out of the Closet
The most intimate realization of the fluidity of her body and mind happened to Bruna in her childhood years. Assigned male gender at birth, she was named Akshay by her parents and was given to live with the male identity until her adulthood. However, the child knew at the tender age of 10 that within the male body lived a feminine soul, who yearned to feel, dress up, and live as a woman. “I just can’t express the happiness I felt dressing up as a woman in my mother’s clothes. It was beyond words. I would get these rare opportunities, hardly once or twice a year. When nobody was around at home, I would get to try out my mom’s clothes. We never had mobile phone in those days so I could not click a selfie or get photographed. I would just look into the mirror and yet feel so inexplicably happy in the moment to see myself as a woman face to face,” says the transwoman.
Born to traditional Punjabi parents and living in a typical middle class vicinity, she never dared to utter even a single word about her identity to anyone. For years, she lived in a closet as Akshay, whether she was going to school or college, or being at home with family and friends. But for the headstrong individual that she always has been, she never gave up.
When she was around 25, she gradually revealed to her family her true self. Her mom was the first one to wholeheartedly accept her for what she is. After a liberating weeklong solo trip to Goa, which she planned herself as a move towards self-acceptance, she knew there was no looking back. In the process of gender affirmation, she rechristened herself as Bruna Freespirit — a woman who was freeing herself from the closet and shaping herself to come out in open.
Lack of Gender-Neutral Basics & the Daily Struggles
From using washrooms to finding a safe place to change, every little thing that the rest of the humanity takes for granted, is a constant struggle for transgenders. Harrowing experiences with policemen and goons and suspicious gaze of onlookers, who brazenly mistake every transwoman for a sex worker is something Bruna has learnt to stand up to despite being shaken every time.
She strongly feels the need to and constantly makes an effort to bust the misconceptions about transwomen in her own small but assured steps. A casual conversation with a cab driver or her house help is her way of dispelling myths. She is not someone you will see waving placards at pride parades but “be the change you want to see” is how she makes the murmuring judgmental snipes change into balanced opinions.
Inkspace Studio – a Space that Let Bruna Be and Express Her Unrestraint Creativity
While she began her career as a graphics designer, Bruna knew very early on in her life that the corporate world was not her cup of tea. Art is where her heart always drifted towards. That’s how she joined Inkspace Studio, New Delhi, initially as a manager, looking after their marketing and client relations. This was the first space outside her home that accepted her true identity, no holds barred. In the spare time in between work, Bruna would often watch with amazement her teammates needling tattoos. Bruna knew art was her way of expressing her freewheeling self. She soon consulted Chetan Salhotra, Founder and tattoo artist, Inkspace Studio, who she considers her mentor and on whose advice, Bruna pursued a 3-month course in tattoo art.
“Bruna is a fast learner, strong-headed and focused, which makes her good at everything she does. Someone like her as my student, helped me to teach her the art of tattooing with less effort, as she makes her time productive and practices through the day and hours to strengthen her skills,” explains Chetan.
Lack of access to equal employment opportunities and discrimination at workplaces has particularly made the LGBTQIA community vulnerable to financial insecurity and pushed them to high-risk alternatives. Chetan, along with his team at Inkspace Studio, chose to be different with their open-minded approach and respect for freedom, equality, and above all humanity. “We believe in a culture of coexisting and hiring teammates, not employees. Bruna has been with us from the beginning of her journey and we feel honored to be a part of it.”
“Working with Bruna and LGBTQIA community came in with the least effort. We were aware of how society reacts and opposes the community but who cares? We feel proud that our studio stands for art and values we put into its creation. I believe it’s a compliment to us and the studio that we stand distinctly in the crowd. Our clients come forward to get tattoos done with Bruna for her bold choice and the magic she put into her work,” adds Chetan.
In fact, her presence also encourages many from the community to drop in for tattoos or just to have a heartfelt conversation occasionally.
Good Things Coming Her Way
Just as this writer was penning her story, Bruna found a safer and secure housing society to move into. Bruna feels relieved that she can now be her true self without leading a masquerading life in the shadow of fear or inhabitations.
This free-spirited soul who gets an unmatched thrill roller skating to her heart’s content, also looks forward to spending quality time and bonding with her pet in her new place. “Astro came to me just after I lost my father, which was a sad phase for the family. But Astro’s presence made our hearts swell with happiness. He came to me when he was a small cute puppy, but the love he gave to me to heal was infinite. He is very naughty by nature and I love playing with him. I can’t imagine my life without him,” signs off Bruna.
