Ink

I have spent the majority of my waking hours today surfing the net for inspiration and possible designs for my next tattoo. Being in Argentina, where the tattoo artists are apparently exceptional and the price is said to be much more reasonable than most places, I have decided to take the opportunity to have some Argentinian ink done. For hours and hours I've been scrolling through photos of random people's tattoos when all of the sudden I realized, tattooing is an epidemic. This is my generation, we are the tattooed people.

In my family, tattoos have quickly become a favorite family pastime. My mom, stepdad, and brothers all have matching tattoos on their backs. However, the same is not to be said for my extended family, where my grandparents quickly frown and then finally turn a blind eye on my most visible tattoo of the Buddhist mantra, Om Mani Padme Hum, which is written in tibetan down my right forearm. My dad was positively horrified at the idea of his children becoming tattooed circus freaks, but if you've seen my younger brother in the past couple years you must know we're way past that by now. But one day a few years ago, my best friend and I were visiting my dad in Austin. My friend has a number of fairly visible tattoos including two sparrows on her chest and a beautiful aquatic half sleeve on one of her arms. We must have been discussing plans for future body art installations when my dad turned to my best friend and said, "I know it looks all cool now, but how are you going to feel about those tattoos when you're sitting in a nursing home 50 years from now?" My friend sort of giggled uncomfortably and I turned to my dad and replied, "Well, it really won't matter because everyone else will be all old and wrinkly and tattooed too." He sat there stunned for a minute and then nodded his head in agreement. We're all a bunch of tattooed freaks anyway!

They say tattooing is one of the oldest art forms on the planet, dating back to prehistoric times when cave dwellers often created tattoos as part of rituals linked to shamanism, protection, and connection with their gods. Tattooed markings on skin and engraved markings in clay provide some of the earliest evidence that humans have practiced a wide range of body art for centuries.

Marriage tattoos have been historically popular to help make sure that you can find your spouse in the afterlife. Tattooing as a rite of passage into puberty was another common ritual. If a girl could not take the pain of being tattooed she was branded un-marriageable because she would never be able to endure the pain of childbirth. If a boy could not deal with the pain of his, he was considered a bad risk as a warrior and become an outcast. And since the birth of the ancient practice, people have been tattooing their totem or spirit animals. Symbolically trying to gain the strength and abilities of one's designated animal, while also signifying that the bearer has a close and mysterious relationship with an animal spirit as his guardian.

Today we tattoo everything from butterflies and koi fish, pin-up girls, skulls, and dragons, to lions having sex with dolphins. The main point here being: TO EACH THEIR OWN. But with each page that I scanned through today admiring amazing works of art, there must have been at least 10 photos of body art on each page where I stopped and thought to myself, what the hell were those people thinking!?! They are permanent, after all. But I am an artist, and so I will embrace the art. And tomorrow I will go and get yet another tattoo.