IN THE TRACE OF INK
Tattoo industry
Tattooing is a form of body modification in which a design is created by depositing permanent or temporary tattoo inks, dyes, and/or pigments into the dermis layer of the skin.
Tattoo artists create these designs using a variety of tattooing processes and techniques, including traditional hand-tattooed tattoos and modern tattoo machines. The history of tattooing dates back to Neolithic times, practiced by many cultures around the world, and the symbolism and impact of tattoos vary across places and cultures.
Tattoos can be decorative (having no specific meaning), symbolic (having a specific meaning for the wearer), pictorial (depicting a particular person or object), or textual (words or pictographs from written languages). Many tattoos serve as rites of passage , signs of status and rank, symbols of religious and spiritual devotion, ornaments of courage, signs of fertility , vows of love, amulets and talismans, protection, and as symbols of the outcast, slaves, and prisoners. Extensive decorative tattoos have been part of the work of performance artists, such as tattooed women .
History and Etymology of Tattoos
The word "tattoo," as used in Western languages today, originates from the 18th-century Samoan word "tatau," meaning "to strike." This word is based on Proto-Oceanic words referring to the tools traditionally used in the tattooing process.
The Oxford English Dictionary traces the etymology of tattooing to the 18th-century Polynesian words "tattaow" (from Samoa, Tahiti, Tonga, etc.) and the Marquesas words "tatu." Before these terms became widespread, the practice of tattooing was described in the Western world using different terms such as painting or staining.
Note: The term "tattoo," used in relation to body modification, should not be confused with the military term derived from the Dutch word "taptoe."
Basic Terms in Tattoo Art
Flash: Pre-designed templates created by tattoo artists are called "flash" templates. These templates are displayed in tattoo studios to inspire clients and provide them with ready-made visuals.
Irezumi: A Japanese term, Irezumi means "to add ink." It encompasses practices performed using traditional hand methods or modern machinery.
Horimono: A common word used for traditional Japanese tattoo designs. In Japan, the term "Western tattoo" is often preferred to describe styles that are not native to the region.
Anthropological Observations
In her studies in the early 1900s, British anthropologist Ling Roth examined different skin marking methods around the world. These methods ranged from piercing techniques in the Pacific Islands to textured applications in New Zealand and scarring traditions in various regions.
Types of Tattoos
The American Academy of Dermatology categorizes tattoos into five main categories:
Traumatic Tattoos: These occur when foreign objects penetrate the skin as a result of accidents.
Amateur Tattoos: Tattoos done without professional equipment or expertise.
Professional Tattoos: Artistic works applied by experts using traditional methods or modern machines.
Cosmetic Tattoos: Aesthetic procedures often known as "permanent makeup".
Medical Tattoos: Tattoos applied for therapeutic or medical marking purposes.
Information about Traumatic Tattoos
A traumatic tattoo is formed when substances like asphalt, gunpowder, or coal dust are accidentally injected under the skin. Dermatologists may refer to these permanent marks, especially those left by carbon-containing substances, as "carbon stains." Because these types of marks penetrate deep into the skin, they are quite difficult to remove.
In dentistry, metal particles that settle in the gums during fillings can also be called "amalgam tattoos." Graphite left under the skin after an accidental puncture from a pen tip is another example of such unwanted tattoos.
