A Tattoo – Art of Body Modification

By Vikasacharya

A Tattoo is a mark made by inserting pigment into the skin: in technical terms, tattooing is micro-pigment implantation. Tattoos may be made on human or animal skin. Tattoos on humans are a type of body modification, while tattoos on animals are most often used for identification. Tattooing has been a nearly ubiquitous human practice. The Ainu, the indigenous people of Japan, wore facial tattoos. Tattooing was widespread among Polynesian peoples, and in the Philippines, Borneo, Africa, North America, South America, Mesoamerica, Europe, Japan, and China. Despite some taboos surrounding tattooing, the art continues to be popular all over the world. Tattoo shops can be found almost anywhere and, especially among young people, visible tattoos are much more prevalent than they ever were before. This explosion of the practice of tattooing has generated a lot of scholarly as well as popular interest. Tattoos can play various roles focused on bearer: magical role, used as talisman, protection against disease, disaster or evil spirits, a possible role for the passage to the other world after death in different faiths, and finally the religious role to express a religious affiliation, devotion and faith. Body marking has been present continuously since the history of mankind, playing diverse roles at various times .Evidence from archaeological evacuations date some forms of body marking to as far back as 12 000 bc. Among early nomadic tribes, the tattoo was used as a mark of identity or belonging to a group and the tattooed marks, such as tigers, monkeys and birds, were usually totemic in nature. Tattoos are reported to have been present in the ancient cultures of Egypt, China, Japan and India . Human skin interacts with the surrounding environment. It has a protective function but it is also the conduit of positive and negative sensations to the nervous system. The popularity of tattoos in the Western world has never been higher. These days, not only the marginal elements adorn their bodies with ink; no more are the tattoos characteristic of only bikers, sailors, convicts, gang and mafia members. Schoolteachers, doctors, architects, housewives, college students -these are the new clients for tattooists. Every year, tattoo conventions are organized, attended by more and more people, and increasingly tattoos are being sported by random people on the streets.