Tattoos are a somewhat taboo subject, a beautiful and sacred artform, conjured into reality by free spirits who exist in a realm chartered for the rebellious at heart. Tattoos are for those who yearn to be different, who dare to eternally display bespoke creative geometry on their skin, a grand reflection of their inner being and a representation of one’s unruly true nature, permanently branded onto their once conventional exterior. Tattoos exist for a special breed of people, an ancient practice many associate with pirates, criminals and great warriors, an everlasting poetic scar, reserved for a special kind of soul, who are born into normality, yet destined to inhabit a life within a defiant corner of the universe where mere mortals cannot survive.
Right, that may be romanticising it a tad, the majority of tattoos these days are obtained while totally intoxicated in the early hours of the morning after a heavy night on the town, the experience is completely forgotten about, with the only memory being the permanent sketch of a cartoon hinge on your elbow, regretted evermore and ridiculed by all. Once reserved for the outcasts of society, the popularity of tattoo art has increased exponentially over the last few decades, becoming commonplace and, in most cases, meaningless, with far too many unqualified and inexperienced artists ready to take your hard-earned cash in return for an ugly and eternal mistake.
But we should remember here the true origins of this sacred practice, Tattoo is one of the oldest forms of art, dating back well over five thousand years. Ancient cultures in Asia, Europe, and Polynesia all exhibit evidence of tattoos going back millennia, there are even remains of tattooed Egyptian Mummies, showing this art form was used worldwide and by all classes of people. Whether they displayed someone’s status, expressed one’s religious beliefs, used as marks of love or invocations for spiritual protection, tattoos historically have upheld many different esoteric meanings, but in every case, they are personal, a unique piece of art attributed to the beholder.
Take the traditional tattoo of Thailand for example, the Sak Yant, a beautiful form of tattoo using sacred geometry, applied by practising Buddhist monks, executed with a sharp piece of bamboo, via an elaborate ceremony in which offerings are made to the spirits in return for a unique design and blessing. Sak Yant are meaningful tattoos with important spiritual symbolism, there are strict rules to obtaining these tattoos, as it is a sacred practice that must be honoured and respected.
I myself am tattooed, I have a Sak Yant obtained when studying Buddhism while living with Monks at a monastery in Northern Thailand, I have a tattoo of Che Guevara, which I received in a small village in Cuba, I too have a daft tattoo on my neck I acquired on holiday when I was young, but my favourite tattoo is on my forearm, a lion wearing a crown emanating from a lily. To others, this tattoo is just a flower, lion and crown … but to me personally, it means so much more, it represents my heritage and achievements symbolically, it’s a daily reminder of who I am, empowering me at the slightest glance and reconnecting me to my individuality, realigning myself back to my chosen direction, recalibrating me to the true trajectory of my life’s journey, and I wear it like a medal of honour.
To me, tattoos aren’t just pretty designs on your skin, tattoos have deep sentimental value, mapping different prominent eras of your life. The art should resonate with you as an individual, the entire process of acquiring a tattoo taps into our primal instincts as creatures of this planet, and our desire to create a proud identity for ourselves. Tattoo is both a complex and basic art form, the process uses only basic tools, and despite modern technology, is still primitive and raw. The ink itself is an ancient and simple substance, a basic solution of pigments, but sometimes created via complex alchemy to achieve wonderful enduring colours. Tattooing is a ritualistic art form, a combination of imagination, passion, skill, patience and years of experience.
The hardest part to obtaining a quality tattoo is finding the right artist, there are literally thousands out there, all with different styles; black and grey, portrait work, Japanese style, and script etc, choosing an artist who is a specialist in the style of tattoo you want in the first place is a sure-fire way of success. Being tattooed is a transfer of energy and finding the right ‘dance partner’ is essential if you are to be truly happy with the result, after all, it’ll be there forever. Receiving a tattoo is a personal ceremony to you, it hurts, – pain being the sacrifice you make for obtaining your private masterpiece.
So you have decided you want a tattoo, you need a tattoo, now what? It can be a daunting task trying to navigate the many tattoo parlours, usually busy with long waiting lists, it may even be intimidating walking into a tattoo parlour, maybe you don’t even know where to start. If only there was a way that the correct tattoo artist could find you, cutting out the stress of trying to find the best studio with the right artist that suits your budget and timeframe, if only there was a way to navigate this old-school industry using new school technology.
If you are reading this article and feel that way, I’d like to help. I recently downloaded an app called ‘Tattoodo’, a company created to solve this very conundrum, a digital platform designed to help people looking for the perfect tattoo, but who don’t really know where to start, and also help those who may be already covered in tattoos yet seek the perfect personal masterpiece that’s evaded them thus far. Tattoodo aim to take the stress out of the process of getting a tattoo, by both helping you find the perfect design, linking you with the right artist, and then booking that all-important first appointment, helping every step of the way, making the entire procedure less difficult. The company was co-founded by Ami James, made famous on the show Miami Ink, and is backed by a host of big names including co-founder and ex-Liverpool football player Daniel Agger. They are launching in the UK this month on the 21st of April and having a party in Shoreditch on the 22nd and 23rd, where they are giving away free tattoos! (As well as drinks, merchandise and much more). Get your free ticket here. Check out their website or download their app if the idea of getting a tattoo has lit a fire inside you.
For me, it wasn’t about choosing a design, on the contrary, the designs chose me, but not everyone’s the same, and maybe Tattoodo can help you receive that perfect tattoo you’ve always wanted and dreamed of…
To do or not tattoo? Tattoodo has you covered.
