Melbourne Ink Artist Samy Baby Discusses Zodiac Symbolism

For millennia, humanity has looked to the stars to find meaning, guidance, or a story of law and destiny. Today, when we look to the sky, we often learn something about ourselves. As part of this year’s Now or Never festival, Pandora has partnered with Melbourne tattoo artist Samy Baby to bring an immersive Zodiac Tattoo Studio to the city. From August 28 to 30, attendees can explore the connection between identity, self‑expression, and astrological symbolism through the lens of jewellery and tattoo artistry.

Connecting the dots between ink and adornment

At the event, you can book an exclusive zodiac‑inspired tattoo, explore the new Pandora Talisman collection and engravable jewellery, or receive an astrology reading. The collaboration feels written in the stars. Though all distinct, zodiac signs, jewellery and tattoos each communicate something about who we are and how we want to be seen.

Samy (a self‑identified ‘true’ Aquarius) tells me that discovering more about her star sign has been instrumental to understanding herself. “It’s taught me to forgive a lot about who I am, in love, in life, with everything, I’m hot or cold – never warm.”

Like the stars, Samy believes all things can be imbued with meaning and express identity. “When we look at an object, we can learn about not just the person who owned it but why it was chosen or made,” she explains. “It connects all civilisations and all points of time; it makes us feel connected.”

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For Pandora and Samy, jewellery and tattoos are no exception. In fact, they might just be the most personal and profound expressions of who we are. “Individually, they can symbolise our personal beliefs, be touchstones of experiences, and cement our value systems. Whether permanent like tattoos or objects that become artifacts of past versions of ourselves, they root us in the human experience.”

Personal meaning in ancient symbols

The upcoming event will be a place where these expressions intersect. While browsing the Pandora Talisman collection, you may find a zodiac medallion capturing your best quality, or stumble upon a charm bearing an ancient inscription that speaks to the soul. Each piece is designed to honour the individuality of its wearer, and each leaves room to be reinterpreted as one’s sense of self evolves.

There’s power in giving – or finding – meaning in objects like these. “Allowing ourselves to assign value to something reinforces the life force within all of us,” Samy says. “Giving external life to internal trains of thought is one of the most beautiful things we have as individuals.”

Beyond the beauty of this unseen power is the beauty we can see. Both the Pandora Talisman collection and Samy’s exclusive tattoo designs draw upon ancient references and contemporary design language, taking into account the rich history of the zodiac and the sentiments of the modern wearer.

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Weaving these two eras together through two different forms of artistry felt natural, Samy tells me, because everything was connected by the most universal experience: being human.

It is interesting to see how this collaboration reflects a broader shift in consumer behavior, where personal items are increasingly viewed not just as accessories but as curated narratives of the self. Rather than buying a generic gift, modern consumers often seek items that offer a specific, almost spiritual connection to their own life story, making this intersection of astrology and commerce a logical evolution in how people choose to adorn themselves.

I am neither an island nor a vacuum.