That’s the discovery independent filmmaker Thinakkaaran Thamilchelvam made, quite literally, on his own skin.
In 2019, Thina walked into a tattoo studio to get a portrait of his late father. The artist was Khang Wei, now the proprietor and chief tattooist of House of OMA in Kuala Lumpur.
What began as a five-hour inking session planted the seeds for a friendship, and eventually, a documentary.
“Somehow we connected,” Thina told FMT Lifestyle. “Through that session, we had various conversations about archiving the story of tattoo artists and the culture here in Malaysia.”
At the initial screening held at House of OMA – a tattoo studio and gallery celebrating its first anniversary – Thina shared the story behind his documentary, “Inked Narratives: House of OMA”. The film explores Malaysia’s evolving tattoo culture, from its rich history to its modern resurgence.
After six months of filming at House of OMA, this preview marks just the first phase of Thina’s project.
“Currently, I have fully self-funded this,” he shared. “My goal is to apply for grants at film labs and film festivals. I’d love to make it like a series. It’s a big dream, but I think it’s possible.”
Thina’s personal connection to tattoo culture runs deep. He got his first tattoo at the age of 21 initially thinking it was simply “cool”.
But as he grew older, his relationship with body art evolved. “Every time I achieve something, I kind of trademark it. But after these past few months of talking to the artists, my whole perception is changing.”
Delving deeper into the history of tattoos also revealed surprising truths about his own heritage.
“I was surprised to learn that Indians have a strong history behind it, so why is it such a taboo in the community then?” he asked.
Thina found that tattoos were once a vital part of Indian tribal culture, an art form stretching back hundreds of years. “If you see the Rangoli for example, it’s actually derived from ancient tattoo designs.”
Shot in an observational style, the documentary opens with Thina interviewing artists behind the camera as they tattoo, drawing out personal stories – some began as graphic or interior designers before finding their path in ink.
The documentary also highlights how passion-led spaces like House of OMA foster creativity and belonging.
Thina accompanied the team to Taiwan for one of Asia’s biggest tattoo conventions, gathering more material to understand the regional scene.
Along the way, he found Ivan Yeong, a Malaysian lecturer who has spent decades fascinated by the cultural weight of tattoos.
Ivan’s interest stems from family history – a wartime story about a Chinese relative who had to scrape off a tattoo to avoid persecution during World War II.
Today, Yeong observes how public perception still lags behind the artistry. “I am tatted myself, and when I tell people that I’m actually a lecturer, the first thing that comes out from their mouth is, ‘Are you sure?’” he laughed.
Through his academic research, Yeong is pushing to reframe tattooing as legitimate art, highlighting how cultural biases have marginalised it.
“It’s a very skilful art form. But yet, not many people can accept it for one of many reasons,” Yeong said.
He noted the irony that henna – a form of body art – is widely accepted due to its impermanence, while tattoos, because they are permanent, often still face stigma.
“I always think, it’s hard enough to draw on a piece of paper. Imagine drawing on skin. Our research aims to create knowledge for people about tattoo culture, so that it can be embraced and admired,” Yeong added.
Looking ahead, Thina, now Yeong’s research assistant, will help expand their work by traveling across Malaysia, exploring indigenous tattoo traditions in Borneo and beyond.
‘Inked Narratives: House of OMA’ is available for preview upon request from May 5 by contacting [email protected]. Follow House of OMA on Instagram.
House of OMA
15, Lorong Travers,
Bukit Persekutuan,
50480 Kuala Lumpur