The art of tattooing

By Kanwar Yogendra

ALEXANDER Lambrechts was declared the world’s most pierced and tattooed man during the International Tattoo Forum last year. His body was decorated with 137 piercing rings and tattoos. Once an activity of uncivilised people, tattooing is now practiced as a form of art by imprinting designs upon the skin by means of colouring matter after puncturing the skin by needles.

Tattooing, a tribal art form, first became popular among sailors and, thereafter, spread to the whole world. It was even considered as a substitute for clothing, after reaching high artistic standards in some communities in Japan, Polynesian races in Maoris and Marqueeas islands. The pictos ("Painted men") of Scotland probably derived their name from the practice.

Tattoo is a permanent mark on the body by the introduction of pigment through ruptures in the skin. Practised almost everywhere in the world, it is somewhat rare with the dark skin races. But surprisingly, it is almost absent in most of China which is otherwise a land of accupuncture.

In India it is still very popular. The countryside is full of people with decorated arms, foreheads and chins with different images of gods and goddesses and their names on them. These tattooed designs are inscribed to provide magical protection against evil spirits, bad luck and sickness. In some tribes, tattoo serves to identify the wearer’s rank, status or membership in a particular group, but still decoration is perhaps the most common motive for tattooing.

Tattoos have been found even on Egyptian mummies dating from about 2000 B.C. The Romans and Germans used to tattoo criminals and slaves. Tattooing was forbidden in Europe after the advent of Christianity but it persisted in other parts of the world. It was rediscovered by Europeans when they came in contact with American Indians and Polynesians, during the age of exploration. The word ‘Tattoo’ was introduced into the English language from Tahiti, where it was first recorded in a report of James Cook’s expedition in 1769.

Tattooing was started with simple pricking of the skin but some Californians introduced colour into scratches. Later on some Eskimos from eastern Siberia made needle punctures through which a thread coated with pigment was drawn underneath the skin. Tribes in Malaysia, Burma and Japan invented their own methods for tattooing the body. Later, special "tattooing parlours" sprang up in the port cities all over the world. The European and American sailors were the main customers. The USA patented the first electric tattooing machine in 1891. The USA became the main centre of influence in tattoo designing with military, patriotic, romantic and religious motifs.

Though a common practice the world over, Tattooing is objected to by some religions and people. Some skin disorders have also been reported by a few tattooed persons. In the 60’s, the practice was even banned by the New York city government because of the role of contaminated tattooing equipment in spreading hepatitis.

But still no one can stop people like Alexander and thousands of Tattoo enthusiasts from flaunting their coloured bodies on beaches all over the world.