The Tattoo and its Current Influence

Nowadays, most people know why tattoos are so fashionable and cool these days. We can find diverse tattoo designs of any kind! For instance, Celts, Aztecs, Vikings, flowers, hearts, dolphins, butterflies and to be frank, any figure or design that a person could imagine. There are a good number of tattoo enthusiasts and lovers around the world, along with organizations like Ink Happened which, by the way, is a free inclusive feminist tattoo community. They have sought in recent years to contribute to the entire tattoo community, as an important representative of free and taboo-free use of tattoos.

Origin of the Word Tattoo

The origin of the word “tattoo” is uncertain, since there are a lot of theories about its origin. The best known (and most accepted) is the theroy which explains that it is due to a Polynesian word “ta” or that comes from the ancient practice of creating a tattoo by striking a bone against another, on the skin which produces a “tau tau” sound.

Another interesting origin theory about the word “tattoo” takes us to the French language, specifically to the French word, “tatouage”. This concept basically explains the act of getting tattooed. In other words, leaving a drawing or a mark on the skin by using special needles or punches with ink.

Is Tattooing Considered an Art?

In the last decades it has become a fairly common practice, which has caused society to see and understand the characteristics of tattoos differently, in addition this activity has been growing into a professional environment. Given the boom that has been gaining over the years, there is a strong debate whether this activity should be considered art or not.

The Latin word for tattoo is stigma, which, according to current dictionaries, its meaning is a mark made with a sharp instrument.

Currently it is common to see how people from the fields of plastic and visual arts have taken the path of tattooists because they find in this activity a mode to express themselves artistically, for them the body is like a canvas for a painter, with a great added difficulty, since once you draw a line it cannot be eliminated (at least not easily).

There are people who consider that if a design is personal and the work they made is unique, then they can start talking about art. Another of the artistic characteristics would be that the tattoo means something to the creator of the design, be it the tattoo artist or the wearer of the work.

For some, the idea that the work done on the body causes a feeling, even if it is something personal, then it is safe to say that tattoos could be considered as art.

Conclusions

The way in which we see and assume tattoos in the present may make this type of “art” to continue to grow in the future and that tattoo artists have their own space in the history of art.

Without a doubt, it is a modality that has gathered a lot of attention in recent years, becoming a fashion trend among great personalities from different scenarios related to the artistic, sports, cultural and finally spreading among ordinary people like you and me, who have adhered to the custom of getting tattooed.

And what do you think? Do you think tattoos should be added to the artistic categories? Are tattoos art? Let us know what your thoughts are!