The Evolution Of Tattoo Art
by: Rhyan Scorpio Rhy
As I take a close look at the evolution of Tattoo Art, it’s hard to understand why it took so long for art critics to either acknowledge or comment on this form of artistic expression. I mean, fine art it isn’t, but you have to appreciate the fact that Tattoo Art often reflects today’s culture just as the works of Old World Masters reflected their respective time periods.
And don’t give me that nonsense about the lowbrow vulgarity and shallow nature of Tattoo Art…not when you can turn on any PBS station and watch Sister Wendy Beckett walk through some of the greatest museums in the world and point out the subtle obscenities (for their time) hidden in plain sight in world-renowned masterpieces.
And speaking of hidden in plain sight, isn’t it funny to think that art proudly displayed on the body could have escaped the notice of the art community for so long, especially when Tattoo Artists are constantly pushing the boundaries of the art form by finding bold new ways of expressing themselves on a living canvas. Nevertheless, Tattoo Art has been looked down upon, if not completely ignored, for decades, which is silly when you think about it. I mean, isn’t “art” simply a means of expression and a form of communication?
But this is an old battle that has been waged so many times before under so many different names: Pre-Raphaelitism, Dadaism, Expressionism, Fauvism, Realism, Surrealism, and the list goes on. Each of these movements began on the lower art rungs and eventually clawed its way up to recognition. Most recently, Fantasy Art has gained enough attention to warrant it being considered a distant cousin to fine art, which would probably make Tattoo Art the bastard stepchild.
So, is there a connection between Fantasy Art and Tattoo Art? Well, they both are considered illustration by the ‘high art’ community, and illustration is not often considered ‘art’ by the ‘high art’ crowd. But while Tattoo Art shares a great deal of similarities with Fantasy Art regarding its struggle to be recognized as an artform, the fact that most separates the two is that Fantasy Art is a genre, while Tattoo Art is a movement.
Also, Tattoo Art is not escapist art--as Fantasy Art often is. Dealing with the subconscious, Tattoo Art often speaks directly to the present human condition, and even though it’s slowly gaining momentum, it doesn’t necessarily care if The Art World recognizes it as a true art form. What matters to Tattoo Artists is that most average people recognize it.
But what does a tattoo really signify? Due to the “Spring Break” popularity of lower back tattoos, tattoo art might seem a little superficial and decorative on the surface, but most tattoos usually have a deeper meaning even if that meaning is only known to the bearer.
Historically, the meaning of tattoos have varied from culture to culture, such as to denote one’s position or prominence within a faction, or to identify criminals or slaves. Tahitian tattoos served as rites of passage, telling the history of the wearer’s life. Boys reaching manhood received one tattoo to mark the occasion, while men had another style done when they married. Sailors traveling to exotic foreign lands began to collect tattoos as souvenirs of their journeys (a dragon showed that the seaman had served on a China station), and tattoo parlors sprang up in port cities around the globe.
Tattooing has declined in many non-Western cultures, but tattooing in Europe, America and Japan experienced a resurgence of popularity starting in the 1990s, with everybody from Barbie (Mattel gave her a temporary tattoo!) to Madonna showing their personal styles through tattoos. According to tattooists, the most popular flash (tattoo-speak for “tattoo design”) today in the United States includes: tribal designs, Kanji (Asian lettering), and religious symbols.
Custom tattooing is increasingly popular with customers, especially those with multiple tattoos. Tattooists also like the custom work -- they say it’s more challenging and artistically satisfying to create something new rather than using a stencil to reproduce a time-worn image such as a rose or an eagle.
But where did the original concept of tattooing come form? Well, if you follow the Tahitian definition of the word “tatau” which means “to mark” or “strike” then the very first recorded tattoo belongs to Otzi The Iceman, a well preserved mummy from roughly 3300 BC, who was uncovered in 1991 in a glacier off the Otzal Alps. Otzi, also known as The Similaun Mummy and Frozen Fritz, bore certain marks on the skin that correspond with the contemporary healing points that would be used to treat symptoms of specific diseases.
If you follow the Polynesian definition of the word “tatao” which means “to tap” the body with a pigment, then the record holder for the oldest tattoo in history would have to go to the Egyptian and Nubian mummies from roughly 2000 BC. This is supported by classic literature from such noted authors as Lysias, Herodotus, and Xenophon, who detail the use of tattoos on ancient tribes ranging from Greek to German to Gaul to Briton.
But as Christianity grew, due in no small part to Constantine, the act of tattooing became forbidden in Europe, though still performed in the Middle East and other areas of the world. When European explorers finally ventured out to Polynesia and the Americas, tattoos were rediscovered and than considered to be exotic.
Presently, both tattooists and the tattooed explore new ways to express their individuality and uniqueness by permanently branding art on flesh with ink and if that isn’t the highest form a praise that an art form can receive, then I don’t know what is.