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“Tattoos are one of the things you take to the grave. Having tattoos does not make you a delinquent or a thug … It is Art. Art is about creativity. Some people hang their art. We wear ours.”
Every tattoo or body art tells a unique story about you, about how you flaunt or wear your expressions – even the mummies have a lot to talk about their origins, and the truths that have been buried with them. The whispers and murmurs are there for over thousands & thousands of years.
Tattoos, one of the most prominent forms of body art, have been entertaining individual people and tribes of diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds, telling stories of their identity, spiritual beliefs, taboo, artistry, and upheavals, spanning countries and continents. The way tattoo art has evolved—from sacred symbols to the present-day hip-hop individualized fashion—tells us in essence how human practices and beliefs are intertwined with their lives’ journeys. In this blog, we will dig into the awe-inspiring tattoo tale from the cavemen to the modern gawky tattoo artists parlours, the various routes they have treaded so far, and how they have been promoted to a celebrated form of contemporary art, something more than just ornamentation.
Fascinating Fact: Otzi the Iceman Had the Oldest Tattoo Designs
The tattoo scholars and researchers have always been divided as to the lineage of tattoo art – where they actually came from, who were the ancient people with these prominent body arts! Some were of the belief that Egyptians were the first to get them. Some thought that they were the South Americans from Chile of the Chinchorro culture! The South American mummy perhaps died at a middle age about 4000 B.C.
The debate ended after the archaeological findings of 1991. We now have a clear idea of the world’s oldest tattoo that belonged to Otzi, the iceman of the European Alps region who was buried under a glacier around 5000 years ago. Intriguing enough to add, the Iceman Otzi had multiple tattoos across his body – simple and cross patterned, sixty-one of them found on his wrist, lower legs, lower back, and torso. It seems that they were made mostly for therapeutic purposes rather than mere decorations. Or, think of the Filipino Ibaloi mummy, representing the head-hunter tribes who would have the hunted animal tattoos etched on their bodies!
More Ancient Root to Tattooing: From Taboo to Tattoo
Egyptian mummies, mostly women, dated back to 2000 BCE, show tattoos on them as symbols of fertility and protection from evil forces. They were believed to be associated with the deity Bes, Goddess of childbirth and well-being.
The Polynesians tattoos are famous and also have their stories to share - like the intricate ‘tatau’ arts practiced among indigenous communities represented their social standing, tribal affiliation, ancestry, and accomplishments. Some native techniques like comb-like tools dipped in ink were used in this body art.
The Maori tribe of New Zealand devised a new form ‘Ta Moko’ - kind of facial tattoo marks where chisels were used rather than needles to mark designs into the skin. ‘Ta Moko’ of every individual is a distinct story to tell, a personal anecdote to share of their life’s journey.
Japan, the most renowned place for tattoo art, also has their share of ancestry dating back to 10000 BCE, as the ancient clay statues and figures show some embossed marks on the figures resembling tattoos. The Japanese art ‘Irezumi’ thrived from the ancient root of spiritualism and symbolism have inspired the latest form of tattooing in Japan.
Though the medieval Churches in Europe banned tattoos as sinful, this body painting form still lived in other parts of the world. In China tattoo designs were used to identify criminals, whereas in India, they were rampantly used as religious symbols. Native American tribes like Tlingit used tattoos to express clan symbolism, while African tribes used symbolic tattoos for women to adorn their hands, feet and faces to invoke blessings from supernatural powers.
Tattoo Designs of the 20th Century: Voice of the Sub-Cultures
“So many tattoo ideas, so little skin.”
Samuel O’Reilly, the man behind the popularization of tattoos, invented the electric machine for boosting this art around the late nineteenth century. It made the replication of tattoo ideas easy and affordable. Advanced tattoo tools and better sterilization techniques added to the widespread uses of these artistic symbols.
The 20th century has seen tattoos as a symbol of individuality, rebellion, bravery, and camaraderie. Through these body arts people tried to express their voices and non-conformation during the socio-political uprisings. These artistic markers have evolved to keep pace with the counter-cultural movements, with the subcultures like the Beat Generation, Hippies, Punks, Hipster, Hardcore Punks, etc. People embraced these body art forms as a freedom of expression regarding free love & sex, opting for psychedelic drugs, etc.
Making Everything Fashionable and Trendy about Tattoo Art
Tattoos have travelled a long way of acceptance and innovation. While the fashion fever is on, modern-day parlors pace up to accommodate the body-art seekers and enthusiasts, who crave to have something personal on their skins, matching with their struggles and aspirations. There are movie icons, pop divas, celebrity figures flaunting these immaculate designs like David Bowie, Ben Affleck, Ariana Grande, Halle Berry, or Angelina Jolie inspiring fans to get inked on. People go crazy to book the nearest tattoo artists, to have their body parts inked as per their choice. And, they are no less fascinating than fine arts!
Did you know that the Spiderman fame star Tom Holland has a secret tattoo on the bottom of his feet, that too of a spider?
Unique Tattoo Designs of the Gen-X: Pushing the Boundaries of Body Art
“I have a heart tattoo on the inside of my middle finger on my left hand.” – Emilia Fox
Innovations in designs, blending cross cultural signifiers in tattoo designs have triggered the body art popularity more – be it the traditional American theme, or Japanese Irezumi style, the hyper-realism or abstract designs.
Tattoo designs for men include 3D tattoos, glow-in-the-dark inks, Japanese Samurai tattoo, eagle or hawk icons, warrior symbols to showcase strength and vigor. Tattoo artists go on innovating styles with unique customizations, according to client requests, blending their skill for this art. Modern day tattoo artists specialize in designs on surrealism, black and grey tattoos, etc.
Tattoos for women often feature delicate designs of natural elements, spiritual themes, etc. They prefer floral patterns, traditional symbols of celestial bodies, sun, moon, mandalas, etc. Personalized scripts dedicated to someone close also feature in these designs. There could be fairies, dragons too!
A Piece of Advice Before You Visit a Tattoo Parlor:
Research on the tattoo artist you are thinking of using for getting inked.
Think about which area you are going to get the designs (the body parts).
Look into the tattoo design thoroughly before you get them on your skin (to suit your style).
Stay away from overused tattoo ideas as these body arts too go out of style like fashion.
If you don’t want the ink to stay on forever or they fear the painful ordeal of the pricking needles, it’s better to have temporary tattoos and fake tattoos, also called stick-ons or rub-ons. The designs printed on a sheet are transferred to the skin without much effort. It’s simple!
Tattoo Revivals: Modern Tattooing to Revive Traditional Artistry
Though the tools and techniques have been improvised and upgraded, the spirit of tattoo art remains almost as close to our ancestors. Many tattoo artists love to preserve the heritage art of the indigenous tribes of South America, Africa, Polynesia, Filipinos, etc. for their sheer intricacy and philosophies painted on skin. The native Filipino ‘Batok’ legacy or the Hawaiian ‘Kakau’ tattoos dating back to thousands of years still look brilliant and relevant as an enduring art. Polynesian tattoo art fascinates viewers with the unique spiritual message – the upper part of the body resonating with the spiritual world, while the lower part resembles the earthy elements. Artists try to replicate these designs to make people aware of these traditions and beliefs.
Tattoo Art in the Age of Social Media & Augmented Reality
Social media platforms no wonder have raised the standards of the tattoo artists from local to global stature. They are no longer confined to their local sub-cultures or groups, but featured as body art samples celebrated all over the world, preferred by professionals, athletes, creative personas, celluloid stars and icons.
More and more professional artists are getting intrigued on this art form using advanced techniques, biodegradable inks, virtual reality tattoos, promising to push the boundaries of this body art. With the ease of quick tattoo removal through lasers and machines, people are prone to modifications and alternations of designs. No wonder this flexibility is roping in more enthusiasts to try their luck.
Tattoo Trends: What’s on Your Skin?
Through this unique form of body art people have always tried to express their individual faith, beliefs, to stay connected with their immediate surroundings. This artform has come a long way from the ancient religious icons to the state-of-the-art AI tattoos (innovative tattoo designs created through AI prompts), to thrive as a universal icon of creativity. With the world becoming a rather small place with globalization and thriving world markets, the gap between tradition and innovation has been wiped out making room for the art of tattooing, telling stories about humans and their journeys.
Each design, image and symbol in tattoo art is chosen meticulously, not only to tell a personal narrative but to connect to the roots. The art on the skin tells many stories about their ancestry, individual aspirations, and experiences. This is a unique kind of conversation understood and accepted by individuals who can understand the message hidden in them. This way, tattoos go on telling stories of timeless expressions that leave a mark a few inches skin-deep, forever.
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