Empowering Dreams: The Artistic Path of Khin Ohiman

I am Khin Ohiman and I have been an artist as long as I can remember. Since I was a child I have always known that art would be part of my life, in what capacity was still unknown. After high school, societal pressure led me to enroll in biology at Davao Medical School Foundation for a year as a preparatory for medicine. It drained the life out of me and I began to see the toll these classes were taking on my mental health, I decided it was time for a change. Feeling lost in a country where art is overlooked and undervalued, I attended Mindanao Kokusai Daigaku, this time working on my Bachelor of Arts in International Studies. For the next two years, my interest in the subjects waned, and so did my grades. I realized I needed to follow my passion.

I began my art career by enrolling at Tesda, to study animation. I thrived there and felt that I was where I was meant to be. Finally, I transferred to the University of Mindanao to start a Bachelor of Fine Arts. My first year was amazing, my professors were such good teachers, and so were my classmates. I made some really good friends and we always helped each other out so we could all finish the year together. Through sheer tenacity, along with the kindness, support, and networking opportunities of other talented artists and caring Professors, I began to release the true artist within.

There were times were finances are tight which forced me to look for ways to support myself through school. Getting a part-time job in the Philippines was a struggle, so one of my classmates offered to teach me to tattoo. That same day I received my first tattoo lesson from my friends Louie Languido and James Daang, little did I know it was the beginning of a new career. It was the turning point of my life. the next month when my birthday came, my mother asked what I wanted. without hesitation, I answered I wanted a tattoo machine, but she was skeptical and worried (like any mother in the Philippines) knowing the stigma of body art and the tattoo industry in our country. I negotiated and asked her to completely cut off my allowance so she could get me one, it was a deal she could not resist.

My perseverance and drive exploded the moment I received my birthday gift, probably because I didn’t have any allowance anymore, I found myself in a do-or-die situation. I would go to any means for the opportunity to work, often traveling hours by public transportation to accommodate clients at any time of night. Between studying, working, and immense travel requirements, the struggle to keep up became too heavy.  I decided to rent a dorm in the middle of the slum for only  $20 a month and survived with only $2 for two meals a day. It was a scary and uncertain time, but it helped to shape me into the person I am today.

While I was in my first year of pursuing my degree, a friend of mine gave my name to her uncle who just opened a tattoo shop, they were looking for a female apprentice so I went in to apply and there I got the position. The universe was really on my side and laid all these opportunities for me, it made me realize how lucky I am with my friends.

After 2 years at the university, my application for PR in Canada came through, and I had to leave my beautiful country. I was so sad that I wasn’t able to finish my degree and leave my friends, family, and everything I've known and loved behind, for a country that was so foreign to me. I landed in Edmonton on March 5, 2018, and was surprised by how cold and different it was from where I grew up. I was experiencing culture shock, which hindered my employment prospects for the first 2 months.

The Artworks in Jasper Ave Downtown took me which I was so grateful for up to this day, I worked there for 8 months till the shop photographer Howard Poon Asked me “what/who I wanted to be” while I was cleaning buckets for the flowers. I told him I wanted to be an artist and he asked again “Then why are you here cleaning buckets?” At that moment it hit me, “Why am I here cleaning buckets?” I kept asking myself that question all day. When I got home I started making resumes and gave them to every art shop or tattoo shop just to get me started in the art scene here in Edmonton. 

Aces N Spades tattoo shop on the city's south side took me in. Though it was an hour and a half on the bus from home, snow or shine I did not complain. I did gumball tattoos there which I believe helped me explore and experiment with tattoo styles without any pressure. Then I met Shan Claydon at a small backyard gathering at my friend’s house, he then asked me to work with him at his new tattoo shop, I couldn't say no since Fountainhead was one of the Shops that I gave my resume 3 years ago and which I was hoping to work at. It was a dream that somehow manifested 3 years later which gave me chills.

While working at Fountainhead with talented artists, I learned a lot of things, I explored, expanded, and dived deeper into art, and they had a huge influence and impact on how I make my art today. there I learned to do bigger pieces such as sleeves and back pieces which is very challenging up to this day, I also learned how to manage myself go to conventions, and drive all by myself for 17 hours. There I really grew up not just as an artist but also as a person and became more responsible. I met different artists who inspired me and helped me find my style.

After 4 years working at Fountainhead with amazing artists, I finally decided I wanted to expand more and achieve more. I now have my own private studio, and the rest is still unwritten.