Part 4 Exercise 5: A tattoo (research pt1)

Research the history and conventions of tattoos and body art – as well as the modern ranges look at the designs from the past and other cultures.

 

The practice of tattoos and body art dates back to thousands of years ago. There is strong evidence that it this ancient art form can be seen on the skin of mummified humans. The oldest tattoo is believed to have been from 3370 BC and 3100 BC.

 

Locations Other places tattoos were recorded:

Alaska, Mongolia, Greenland, Samoa, Sudan, Russia. All these discoveries link to different periods of time throughout ancient history. Some of these date back to 2100 BC.

 

Tattooing is something that was practiced throughout various cultures, and each represented something as part of a tradition. Ancient Egypt and India used them as a mark of status but also as a punishment. Tattoos could also be used for religious reasons and as a healing method. In the Philippines similarly to the status reason they were used to mark people’s accomplishments and they also believed they offered magical properties.

Ancient Greeks, romans and the Chinese would tattoo they’re criminals and slaves so they could be easily identified and if they were to escape. In addition, getting tattoos could be to show others that you were a warrior.

Tattooing because found in many places was most likely picked up from people migrating and travelling gypsy tribes especially in India and the middle east who specialised in tattooing.

 

I found this piece of info about tattoo in Christianity:

 

“When Christianity appeared, tattooing was considered a barbaric tradition and it slowly faded in Europe to return with transoceanic travels in 16th. Travelers like Sir Martin Frobisher, William Dampier, and Captain James Cook brought home with them indigenous people from places they visited, and they were often tattooed. At first, tattooing was “reserved” for sailors and lower classes but in time, as tattoo artists became more and more proficient, tattooing became hobby of aristocracy which had money to pay high prices of professionals. As the tattooing became cheaper it again was seen as a mark of a lower class. It stayed like that until 1960s and the hippie movement when it slowly entered mainstream changing from deviant behaviour to acceptable form of self-expression. It became so mainstream that even Mattel started selling barbie dolls with tattoos. People of both sexes, of all economic classes, and of all ages wear tattoos if they want so.”

 

And, about tribal meanings:

 

“At a tribal level, tattoos can indicate age, marital status, power and class, and outside the group they may distinguish friend from foe. In many tribes, women’s tattoos were symbols of beauty that simultaneously ensured they were of no value to neighbouring tribes.”

 

^ Historyoftattoos.net. (2019). History of Tattoos - Origin and Meaning of Tattoos. [online] Available at: http://www.historyoftattoos.net.

 

AuthorityTattoo. (2016). Dan Hunter. [online] Available at: https://authoritytattoo.com/history-of-tattoos/.

 

olson (2010). A brief history of tattoos. [online] Wellcome Collection. Available at: https://wellcomecollection.org/articles/W9m2QxcAAF8AFvE5.

 

 

Now a days tattoos aren’t worn as a part of a tribal or indigenous tradition; it would be rare to find them used for this. It’s now used as a way of self-expression. Most people now get tattoos because they like the art and want it on their body. However Other than aesthetics people do get them as a tribute to a person, animal, loved one or someone who means a lot to them, or those who have died.

People who get tribal tattoos in modern times are usually to represent a part of their family’s tribal/cultural heritage and they want to carry on the tradition. Or people like how tribal designs look and get them unaware of what they are. The spiritual and ancient meaning of tattoos has disappeared as it now are mostly for aesthetic purposes.

 

Examples of different tribal tattoos from various cultures:

 

Some cultural mentions

attmag. (2020). Tribal Tattoos: Meanings, Tattoo Designs & Ideas. [online] Available at: https://tattmag.com/tribal-tattoo/ [Accessed 27 Aug. 2021].

 

 

This part is all taken from websites where the tribal tattoos were explained and their characteristics in relation to their meaning.

 

 

Br, L. (2019). 60 Tribal Tattoos (with their meanings). [online] latatoueuse.com. Available at: https://latatoueuse.com/en/tribal-tattoos [Accessed 27 Aug. 2021].

 

“In the Western world, the most widespread styles of tribal tattoos are the Polynesian originating from the traditions of Tahiti, Samoa, Hawaii and Maori in New Zealand. Maori tattoos are the most popular tribal designs today, usually for larger pieces, such as tattoo sleeves. The Polynesian style is characterized by shades of black/grey and by the combination of intricate geometric shapes and tribe symbols, the meaning of which is very interesting.”

 

 

Each tattoo design is as complex and as original as a person wants it, there may be similar characteristics but many ways to express it. The modern version of tribal tattoos are often less detailed and more minimalistic or there is colours within a design. Such as these 

 

Polynsian designs

 

Filipino style of tattoos is a lot thinner lines and I used this as inspiration. When researching about the Filipino tattoos I came across their “national flower known as the Sampaguita. This beautiful white flower is also known as the Arabian Jasmine. This plant symbolizes simplicity, strength, humility, and purity. Therefore, the Sampaguita tattoo carries the above traits as well as being a symbol of the Philippines.”

 

 

Anon, (n.d.). What Does Filipino Tattoo Mean? | Represent Symbolism. [online] Available at: https://www.tattooseo.com/filipino-tattoo-meaning/ [Accessed 27 Aug. 2021].

 

 

Lookslikecandysays (2020). UPDATED: 37 Intricate Filipino Tattoo Designs (December 2020). [online] Looks Like Candy | Best Trends in Makeup, Hair, Nails and Tattoos. Available at: https://www.lookslikecandy.com/filipino-tattoos/#pics [Accessed 27 Aug. 2021].

 

 

As these are only a few example there a many more cultures which have their own individual characteristics, I decided to focus more on Polynesian and Filipino inspired symbols/ designs above. They’re a lot more minimalistic and I prefer simple line tattoos with no colour. Sticking to this minimalistic theme I decided I wanted to modernise the tribal designs further and merged it with a variety of  line drawings of flowers with an element of it being continious.