Tattoos… Tabu or Fine Art

According to research, about 36 percent of adults (ages 18-25) in America today have at least one tattoo. In fact, statistics show there are at least 21,000 tattoo parlors established in the United States.  Although very common, many still do not know of its history and how it greatly influenced society today.  

swallows tattoo

by Lucas Cervellini

Evidence has shown that tattooing being practiced all over the world since the Neolithic era, in fact, the oldest tattooed skin was found in the body of a Chinchorro culture, mummy in South America, dating back to 600 B.C. More discoveries were made throughout time, many of which told a story of the person’s culture and lifestyle, much like today. However, methods were much more different than they are now. For the ink to remain permanent, it would have to be trapped underneath the skin layers. Of course they did not have the ink we have now, so different colors and materials were used, such ashes and pigmentation made from plants. Many historians believe tattooing was discovered by accident, for example, someone with a small cut could have rubbed it with a hand covered in dye to later discover a permanent mark. Tattoos then where created by puncturing the skin with sharp objects such as bones and thorns dipped in dye, followed by the commonly known “stick-n-poke” method.

Cobweb

Portrait by Lucas Cervellini

It wasn’t until the 1960’s that tattoos began to hike on popularity. It was quite popular among sailors and prison gangs.  For them, tattoos served as symbolism and told a very interesting stories. For example, the swallows; this signified that a sailor had sailed 5000 miles over sea. What about the cobweb, which signified a lengthy prisoner’s term? All of these represent something significant to their lives. Just like Jack London’s famous quote, “Show me a man with a tattoo and I’ll show you a man with an interesting past.” Today, tattoos have been seen as less of a taboo and more of a form of art. It is incredible how an artist can perform a masterpiece with a foreign set of tools. Not just that, but it is a great honor to add new pages to that person’s personal book.

Tattoos have been used all around the world to represent culture, history, personality, and a strong personal meaning to those who hold it. It is amazing what man can do with a talented mind and a human canvas.