Indigenous Tattoo Traditions: Humanity through Skin and Ink

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“For thousands of years, tattooing or permanently marking the skin on the body, has allowed people to convey their individual or group identities.”The markings also show important life transitions and journeys or can express a person’s creativity. In Indigenous Tattoo Traditions the author presents a great range of tattooing methods used by Indigenous peoples, both by coloured photographs and diagrams. He examines tattooing as an art form, cultural explanation and permanent record of the wearer’s memories and ideals.

Lars interviews Indigenous artists and discusses how many of the old traditions have been revived. He has collected and photographed many ancient and rare tattoos and has passed them on for the posterity and future of the group. Some of the groups interviewed, (always with permission) include people from Africa and the Middle East. He has also recorded and photographed tattooed mummies and figurines in Egypt. A detailed look at the tools used for the body marking is also shown, as are the tools used by Native North Americans.

In the Northern Philippines, tattoos have been very detailed and cover large areas of the body. An illustration shows the extent of the markings over the back, legs and buttocks. In the past, the taking of a human life was a prerequisite for receiving warrior chest tattoos among some groups. In Japan tattoos were often put over injuries or aching limbs for therapeutic healing. One lady recorded said that she tattooed herself to strengthen her eyesight.

There is a great deal of fascinating information presented, supported by many photographs and diagrams. The whole book is a visual treat. It includes End Notes, a Bibliography and an Index.

Reviewed By Grasshopper2