Tattoos

This is ancient art form in which the body represents the canvas. Historically, tattoos were intended to signify the status of an individual, a sign of religious membership, a mark of punishment/protection as well as a brand for slaves. In modern times, people use tattoos as a form of self-expression and some use it as symbol of rebellion. In the United States many prisoners and criminal gangs use distinctive tattoos to indicate facts about their criminal behaviour, prison sentences, and organizational affiliation. Early tattoo inks were obtained directly from nature and were extremely limited in pigment variety. Today, an almost unlimited number of colours and shades of tattoo ink are mass-produced and sold to parlours worldwide. Tattoo artists commonly mix these inks to create their own unique pigments. Some tattoos are used to apply permanent make up and to disguise imperfections. Others however use tattoos in order to push body modification to extremes. People have been known to tattoo their tongues, eye balls and private parts. To me, all tattoos do not need to have a deep meaning or symbolic connotation; they just need to be unique, creative and visually appealing. I appreciate works of art that are inimitable or ones that show the artists skill, creative vision and most of all patience. I love to admire big, bright and complex tattoos and I am intrigued by people who will endure hours and hours of pain and pay hundreds of pounds to permanently etch art onto their skin.