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It seems every man and his dog has a tattoo these days. Far from being an act of rebellion, is tattooing about conforming or art-forming?  It can’t be denied that tattoos have entered the mainstream. Initially appearing in popular culture during the ‘60s as a symbol of noncomformity, the art form has since evolved into a hip fashion trend flaunted by celebrities and athletes alike. But with overexposure also comes contempt. The once scandalous practice of tattooing is now viewed by even the likes of celebrity slut Paris Hilton as an “unoriginal” habit of the masses. Before getting too cynical about tattoos, it‘s good to remember the rich history behind this so-called fad, its emergence as an art form and the fact that Thailand is home to one of the most fascinating tattoo traditions. Tattoos can be traced back 5,000 years to the Egyptian era. From here it spread to Southeast Asia, where traditional tattoos were a sign of status or tribal affiliation. Over the centuries in the West, crudely drawn tattoos were mostly adorned by sailors, criminals and circus freaks. In the last half of the 20th century, however, tattoos rose from their sinful association with bikers, topless dancers and rough workmen to become an accepted art form.
Today, the tattoo industry is one of the fastest growing businesses in North America because of its high level of mass appeal. A 1997 study by researchers at York University found that middle-aged, middle-class suburban women made up 80 percent of the clientele at a popular tattoo shop in Toronto. Also, many U.S. states that once outlawed the practice have since eased their restrictions, providing further proof of the art form‘s widening acceptance. The business of tattooing is also evolving. Advances in tattoo technology have meant more hygienic conditions and extra precision with a wider range of colors and designs. This has helped to develop the once raw practice into a delicate form of art. While the practice of tattooing grows ever popular, the art of tattooing is going back to its roots. Traditional Thai tattooing enjoys a reputable name as a highly skilled and refined art form. The blue tattoos etched with long bamboo sticks by Thai Buddhist monks are said to give the wearer occult powers. Consisting mostly of Khmer script and animal designs, men endure the agonizing but exacting process of bamboo tattooing for protection. Apparently, the tattoos can stop bullets and deflect knives, which is always handy in a bar fight.
Traditional tattoos are emerging as the next new craze among tattoo enthusiasts. Poo, a tattoo artist from Saklai Studio in Bangkok’s Siam Square, said the popularity of tribal patterns is growing, particularly prints from traditional Japanese and Maori designs. Last year, Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie firmly planted traditional Thai tattooing on the fame map after having a large tiger engraved on her lower back. The traditional bamboo technique was even carried out by legendary artist Sompong Kanphai in Bangkok. It’s clear the social status of modern tattoos has shifted from an outrageous act of rebellion to a mild eyebrow-raising conversation topic. Professionally speaking, tattooing is now recognized as a legitimate vocation in most countries, both in the West and East. Also, their art has been showcased in exhibits at galleries, museums and art institutions around the world.
Like a kind of permanent pop art, modern tattooing has developed from popular culture and traditional practices to a form of contemporary art. However, along with beautiful artistic expressions on skin also comes banal and unoriginal designs. In the future, we predict the real money will be in tattoo removal parlors.
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