Photos and text by Beata Juodvalkyte
Shavon Zurasky is unlike any other tattoo artist. In her twenties, she moved from America’s South to Japan with only 100 dollars in her pocket to discover herself. There, she found her passion for tattooing after being tattooed by many famous monks. She had a physic reading done by one of the monks in Japan, who told her that her color is purple, and her flower is lotus, inspiring the name for her current business. Zurasky opened up her first tattoo shop in Japan in 1990, and ultimately moved to Columbia, S.C. to be close to her family. She was instrumental in bringing about the legislation that legalized tattooing in the state and was the first female tattoo artist to be licensed in South Carolina. Here, she opened Shavon’s Purple Lotus Tattoo.
Upon arrival to Shavon’s Purple Lotus Tattoo, guests are expected to take off their shoes, and are greeted by the sounds of birds chirping, fire burning in the fireplace, and Zurasky’s best friend and assistant, Erika. The place is decorated with collectibles from her travels, such as Chinese umbrellas, Indian pots and all kinds of sculptures. One type of sculpture that is found throughout Shavon’s Purple Lotus Tattoo is a purple lotus itself.
Shavon Zurasky takes her customers seriously. She takes time to get to know them, find out what they want, and customize their tattoo art however the customers desire. The cozy atmosphere makes everyone feel relaxed and comfortable, like drinking tea with an old friend. Before they leave, every customer receives a long and sincere hug from Zurasky.
After closing down the place, Zurasky happily leaves to go home to her tattoo artist husband and a yorkie puppy. She says she feels really content with her life, and says that even though there are some things she’s not proud of, she is truly proud of the journey her life has taken her on.
Shavon says, “Tattooing is the most spiritual art in the world. It is the only thing you can take with you in the ‘afterlife’. Every tattoo is like a photo album. They mark what you are doing an where you have been. It is beautiful magic that lasts forever.”
Beata Juodvalkyte
I became really interested in photography when I was just 9 years old and I got my first camera phone. I used to take pictures of my Littlest Pet Shop toys (little animal figures), and move them a little each shot. In the end I would make a little stop motion video with a little story to go along with it. Then in high school I joined a Television class in which I became familiar with all kind of DSLR cameras. For one of the projects in that class I had to go to my local Starbucks and there a man gave me a business card and invited me to film and photograph one of his fundraiser events. After photographing his event, I started my own little business of photography and videography. Here in UofSC I am a Victoria’s Secret Campus Representative, where I do a lot of photography and editing. As well as I am a creative director for HerCampus.