Art and Entertainment

Though many think of tattoos as a modern means for self expression and individualism, in fact the art of tattooing the skin dates back as far as the Ancient Egyptians, and has been a part of countless cultures since then. Tattooed mummies and the tattooed remains of a man from the Ice Age prove that tattooing is nothing new. Tattooing has been particularly central to the cultures in Polynesia, especially in Samoa, where body ink holds symbolic as well as artistic significance.

Ancient techniques of tattooing included everything from simply pricking the skin with a pin and rubbing ink into the wound to more advanced techniques, such as those developed by the Maori in what is now New Zealand. The Maori had a complex “moko” style, in which tattoo patterns were inked on to the face, buttocks and other surfaces using a small and extremely sharp tool. The Maori tribesmen and women are now famous for their intricate patterns of triangles and lines, now known generically as “tribal tattoos.” Europeans first discovered the tattoo technique of the Maoris in the 1700s.

The cultures of Japan, Polynesia, Samoa, and Thailand all had their own techniques of tattooing. Each culture also adopted its own series of icons and imagery that reinforced specific cultural ideals and norms. Currently, it’s common practice for Yakuza (Japanese Mafia) members to have full body tattoos. Those tattoos were often done by bamboo combined with metal needles.

The Samoan art of tattooing utilizes wooden implements – in fact the word “tattoo” is derived from the Samoan word “Tatu”, meaning “to strike.” The Samoan technique incorporates a number of assistants who hold the skin tight while the artist uses a combination of bone and wood tools to create the actual artwork. Many of the tattoos that are created by the Samoans are done in public and private ceremonies as an important part of their culture.

In the Thai tradition many of the tattoos are worn by Buddhist monks and are derived from religious iconography. The implement used for tattoos in the Thai tradition is a brass tube that is fitted with a pointed rod. Some believe that the Thai implements are the basis for the Western tattoo machine.

Naturally, one of the most infamous tattooed populations is that of sailors and pirates. A sailor named William Dampher brought tattoo methods back to the west in the late 1600s after traveling through the South Seas. In fact, he didn't just bring back knowledge of the methods used, he also brought with him Prince Giolo, “The Painted Prince.” Giolo was a Polynesian Prince whose body bore many traditional tattoos.

Although tattooing was popular centuries ago, it was an even slower process than today's inking methods, at least until the first tattoo machine was introduced around 1891. Tattooing remained a curiosity through the 1930s, when traveling circuses employed tattooed men and women as attractions. Although specific practices and designs may differ from region to region, and from era to era, it seems clear that tattoos hold both a symbol and an artistic weight.