A man recounted the experience of having tattoos applied directly onto his eyeballs.
In recent years, tattoos have gained considerable popularity, with increasing numbers of individuals choosing to get inked as societal stigma diminishes in many parts of the globe.
While some individuals might prefer a more discreet option, such as a small tattoo on the ankle, others might choose a larger arm design that can still be concealed with clothing when necessary.
There are also those who take their love for tattoos to the next level, opting for full sleeves or even facial tattoos.
Naturally, there are a few who push the boundaries to the extreme. Among them is a man originally known as Mathew Whelan, who later changed his name to reflect his passion for extensive body art.
He now goes by ‘King of Ink Land King Body Art The Extreme Ink-ite’, though he mentioned that he typically uses ‘Body Art’ for everyday interactions as it is ‘a lot shorter’.
Body Art has invested over £40,000 ($52,000) and dedicated 1,600 hours to getting tattooed. He claims that at one point, 32 artists were simultaneously working on him.
His tattoos cover nearly his entire body, including his face, leaving barely any un-inked skin except around his eyes, lips, and ears.
He disclosed that he got his first tattoo before reaching the legal age for it.
“The very first seconds of breaking the skin I knew in my head at the age of nine I wanted artwork on my body, probably not to the extent that I’m covered,” he shared on This Morning. “I was actually 16, two years to the legal age of being tattooed.”
He continued, “I’m still the same person, just older, and more colorful.”
However, there was one area that stood out as extreme, even for avid tattoo enthusiasts.
This was having tattoos on his actual eyeballs to darken the area surrounding his iris and pupil.
“It’s with a syringe, and they pierce the muscle tissue in the eyeball,” he explained. “Your optical nerve is not in the eyeball, so it’s not painful, just dangerous.”
While undergoing the procedure, he noted there is no anesthetic, saying: “You’ve got to be a statue or a gargoyle and not twitch, because it can be different, between losing your sight.”
Discussing his motivation, Body Art said: “One of my favorite animals is an orangutan, and if you know monkeys and orangutan their eyes are black.”
He further commented: “It’s become a lifestyle for me, not an addiction.”