Written onthe body
Diana Kiernander explores the enduring fascination with the art and history of tattooing.
glorious butterfly is gazing
up at me. It has a cutesy.
cartoon face and curled lashes. lts larger than life wings are a dazzling explosion of pop-art colour and bubble dimensions. Flowerheads. blasted with vibrant. glowing blocks of green and red ink circle above.
This multicoloured mix of manga-inspired art is not on a gallery wall though. (‘lipped inconspicuously into the back of a dark folder. stuffed with tribal designs. skulls and crossbones. it's one of the many modern images bringing tattoo art bang tip to date.
It's fair to say the popularity of tattoos has grown steadily in recent years. Suddenly. everyone. from reserved office workers to casual students. wants to be adorned with a slice of street cool and in the past year. the independent tattoo parlour scene has supersized. There are four studios within minutes of each other in Glasgow’s west end. and the southside city streets are catching up fast. A trawl through Edinburgh uncovers no less than l2 reputable ink dens.
Perhaps the demand is not so surprising when you consider the present cultural climate. ()ur fast- track consumer society means style can be bought off any High Street shelf. but tattoos uniquely tap into the art of self-expression. A permanent mark on the skin
feels like the ultimate imprint of
individuality. You can interpret the carved scars as opaque messages. charged with meaning. Conversely. body art can also act as a peculiar identity tag. History recalls how criminals. sailors and Japanese mafia ligureheads forged unbreakable bonds through displaying symbolic scars on the skin. Nowadays it is increasingly
1 18 THE LIST M Dec 2006—4 Jan 2007
A PERMANENT MARK ON THE SKIN FEELS LIKE THE ULTIMATE IMPRINT OF INDIVIDUALITY
difficult to align yourself with a proper underground scene. so is it any wonder people are seeking community and acceptance with an alluring visual edge'.’
Like all good art. tattoos transgress norms and celebrate difference. The emergent style mood of the masses then appears to be unconventional and rebellious. It's encouraging to note that women are forerunners of the trend. with 20‘)? of British women having a tatt. compared to just 13% of men. It‘s a way of flouting
Nathalm Ime and Inn partner in their Edinburgh tattoo emporium, Old Tow" Taltmm (OI I)
abstract femininity and vacant glamour in favour of a strong statement about personal identity.
So. as body art becomes acceptable. society starts its search for another taboo. linthusiasts are already creating something new. There are body modification groups emerging with a unique interest in branding. cutting. binding and inserting implants. It may never really take off. But then you look at the butterfly and remember that someone may have said that about tattoos once.
STATS ON TATTS
As tattoos become increasing/y common arriong growing numbers of men and women, and With remova/ techniques being costly and often ineffective, it's Wise to remember that a tattoo is a lifelong commitment. so pick your design careful/y Here Is a rough guide to what's popular now.
Tribal
lhe legacy of tribal communities. from Maori culture to African and Pacific lsle dwellers. continues to inspire Western tattoo trends. But artists advise caution when imitating symbols associated Willi an ancient belief system.
‘lt's a good idea to do some research as to the Significance of a partiCuIar design,' says DZiVKi Hall. who owns Southside Ink in Glasgow. 'Often there were rituals and status attached to certain demgnsf
When choosing a tribal design, be aware that, historically. choices differed according to gender. soch and marital status. Also. tribal tattoos are not all solid black lines. they can be colourful too. Southside Ink has a huge selection of tribal designs and the ancient look is the perfect choice if yOU want to choose something straight from a book. It's also great if yeti don't want a tattoo that is going to make you look and feel too different.