As the days get colder owing to the gradual fall in mercury levels, out come the sweaters, jumpers, and hoodies that have been tucked away in our closets for months. Enter Winter! And with it, a chance to cozy up indoors, raise the thermostat levels, grab a warm cup of coffee, and layer up….all the while hiding our skin and concealing our body art.
Ta-boo or Tattoo?
Did you know that British Explorer Captain James Cook is credited with the words “Taboo”, and “Tattoo?”. During one of his voyages around the Tahitian and Polynesian Islands, he came across local tribes that openly practiced tattooing, and hence the term was coined in 1769.
But “body marking” dates way back, all the way to 5300 BCE. Yes, that’s right! This indelible art has been around for ages. In fact, if you asked “Otzi the Ice Man”, he’d be more than happy to show you all of his 59 tattoos which are well preserved to this day, Pfft! And here we thought that Tattoos don’t last long.
While our friend Otzi hails from the Otzal Alps (hence his name) which is somewhere around Austria- Italy, documented details suggest that other primitive cultures have been practicing Tattooing for as long as the “Ice Man”. People belonging to the Austronesian subgroup i.e, Taiwanese, Polynesians, Micronesians, as well as the Malagasy have all been practicing variations of this hallowed art. Japan, a country that is known for giving us “the Tebori” has also been practicing the art of tattooing for thousands of years.What do Tattoos symbolize?
On close examination of Otzi the Ice Man's body, scientists found up to 59 tattoos, each one of them created via small incisions traced with charcoal in and around the ankles, knees, wrists, and lower back, spots that are usually associated with acupuncture treatments. The fact that deliberate marks were made in such areas of the body led the scientists to believe that tattooing was being used as a medical practice, which alludes to the healing aspect of tattooing, a topic that is fresh and being looked at by various psychologists.
While some cultures associated Tattoos with healing and well-being, the Greeks, who learned tattooing from the Persians used tattoos to mark slaves and criminals should they try to escape. Although atrocious, it was mimicked by the Nazis as they branded concentration camp prisoners, the Yakuza, a feared transnational crime syndicate from Japan had traditional tattoos to identify each member.
It is due to such historical examples that a lot of stigmas have been attached to tattooing, and people who got tattoos for other reasons were still considered outcasts and rebels.
But not all Tattoos conjure up a negative image! Indigenous tribes of the Polynesia Islands, the Americas, the Middle East as well as India maintain a sacred tradition to this day.
The reasons for tattooing ranged from sexual maturity, bravado, and social standing, to being initiated into a tribe/clan.
Changing times bring new meaning
In the ’60s and ‘70s Cliff Raven and Ed Hardy, tattooers with art degrees began working on revamping the image of tattoos. As a matter of fact, initial tattoo conventions were all about presenting a professional image, later tattooers started a movement to legalize tattoos since they had been deemed illegal decades ago. What began as a movement birthed Tattoo licenses that allowed artists to practice their art safely and securely.
This was a monumental event in the history of tattooing as later scores of public figures started sporting tattoos, and among them, the first to do so were singer-songwriter Janis Joplin, pop musician Cher as well as actor Peter Fonda. When celebrities started donning tattoos they inspired a legion of followers to go down that path, and soon enough tattoos started becoming a common occurrence.
A huge credit for that also goes to soccer player David Beckham and actress Angelina Jolie whose numerous tattoos crafted a new image during the late ‘90s and early ‘00s.
Two decades later and tattooing is stronger than ever, having branched into different styles, creating fantastic tattoo artists with their shops and equipment.
What’s incredible is how society's perception of Tattoos has dramatically changed, especially compared to the not-so-distant past. People have started using tattoos for storytelling, capturing a unique moment from their life, something that inspires them, and provides them comfort.
It’s safe to say that tattoos have started becoming a norm these days. Don’t believe me? Look around you, and I’m sure you’ll find at least 2 in 10 people sporting a tattoo, that’s what market research says. Research statistics also point out that Tattoos are the 6th fastest-growing Industry in 2021, now that’s exciting news for all tattoo aficionados.
How many styles of Tattoos are there?
Each culture has had its unique contribution to tattooing, as it is with other aspects of art. There are scores of different styles of Tattooing which would require an article by itself, but let’s look at the five most popular styles of tattooing:
The Traditional / Old school/ American traditional Style: think of bold lines, bright colors, and iconic designs like roses, anchors, and beautiful lady heads. This is by far one of the most well-known and beloved styles.
Realism Style: A style that’s been around since the Renaissance (Hello Sistine Chapel!), this style is characterized by realistic depictions of nature, jaw-dropping color as well as black and white celebrity portraits.
Tribal Tattoo Style: Also referred to as Indigenous body art, this style is a combination of different styles owing to the multiple native cultures spread across the planet, e.g. Polynesian body art varies from the Maori as well as the Marquesan style of tattooing. Tribal tattoos consist of elaborate patterns and are almost always done in black.
The Irezumi a.k.a The Japanese Style of Tattooing: An art form that originated in the Edo Period of Japan (1603-1868). Tattoos done in this style are mostly done manually i.e., hand-poked, and capture pieces from Japan’s rich history. Almost all of the tattoos will feature popular elements like dragons, koi fish, beautiful blossom flowers, and mythical beasts.
Minimalistic Tattoos: As the name suggests, minimalistic tattoos are the symbolic manifestation of the phrase “less is more”, focusing on simple clean lines and heavy use of negative space. This style seems to be catching on a lot more today, especially with the emphasis on living a simple, minimalist life.
Things to consider before getting a Tattoo
🢂 Tattoo decisions should never be made lightly because it’s permanent! Research the tattoo style that you want to get and book an appointment with the artist who specializes in it. It is important to get the artist’s perspective on the different aspects of tattooing such as placement, size, color, design, etc.
🢂 Thoroughly look up the Tattoo Shop and the Artist that is going to tattoo you. Getting a tattoo should by all means be a wonderful experience (minus the pain) for both the artist and the client. By booking an appointment you can get to know the artist as well as survey the shop for their hygiene, professionalism, and friendliness (Tip: I highly recommend Oak and Aether Collective on Victoria Street, Kamloops).
Being financially prepared goes a long way in ensuring you don’t come up short and have to haggle with your artist (a big no-no). Plus it’s always nice to appreciate your artist’s hard work by generously tipping them frequently.
🢂 Get ready to become an expert in skincare and aftercare! A huge part of ensuring that your tattoo stands the test of time is by taking care of your tattoo, which means no swimming, tanning in the open sun or tanning booths, or any rigorous physical activity for up to 2 weeks. All the while making sure that your skin is properly moisturized with appropriate moisturizers/ tattoo balms as you go about your day.
🢂 One of the most vital things to consider before getting tattooed is whether your workplace accepts tattoos, especially ones that can’t be hidden. Although most workplaces are open-minded about body art, specific professional sectors still maintain a traditional standpoint. The placement of tattoos is another important thing to consider, you cannot sport a face tattoo if you work in a bank or an investment firm.
"Body art, more popularly known as Tattooing has evolved from a sacred art form practiced by specific tribes to a burgeoning aesthetic adorned by more and more people each day as newer styles are discovered and meanings imprinted on them.
With the world having gone through various challenges in the past few years on a personal, social, and global level, humans have been reminded about their mortality yet again.
And so, we have started witnessing an increasing number of people getting tattooed, to capture a part of their life on a canvas that is most intimate to them. This is not new at all, from the early caveman days we have had a history of expressing what means to us in a very creative way, all that’s changed today is the medium."
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