Cristian Moreta

Jherson Grijalva
Level 6
7-9 pm
Behind Tattoos
Traditional artists spend most of their professional lives studying, learning and perfecting many and varied
techniques until they reach a peak that allows their work to be exhibited in an art gallery or a museum. This is
the goal of conventional artists, be appreciated by others after all the hard work, time and passion that they
invest in to their work. People usually go to museums to see art pieces; they enjoy trying to understand what
artists tried expressing in their work. However, there is another kind of art that is not necessarily appreciated or
seen inside a museums or an art gallery, but it is shown on the skin of others.

Throughout history, art has been used to express ideas, feelings and connect people, and tattoos have the
same objective. Tattoos are not a new type of art, but in recent years, popularity it has increased drastically. If
we track down tattoos story, we find out that there are older than we probably think. Tattoos can be found
since ancient history, and its use has record that begun thousands of years ago. The earliest known examples
of tattoos are the Egyptian vestiges found in several female mummies dated to 2000 B.C. (Cate, 2007), but
tattoos have a varied and colorful story, almost as much varied and colorful as the people who have carried
tattoos since they were first used.

It is obvious that tattoos are not new fashion associated with youth, tattoos have had countless reasons to be
made. For example, for centuries the Berbers in mountainous regions of North Africa used therapeutic tattoos.
For example a tattoo that go a cross on the inside of the left knee, six straight lines 15 centimeters long above
the kidneys and numerous parallel lines on the ankles, to treat rheumatic pains (TATOO TEMPLE, 2016).
Tattooing was also a common practice in oriental cultures, in countries like Japan and China tattoos were
mostly used for aesthetic or decorative uses but with a deeper spiritual significance.

In South America, many cultures, as the Mayans, widely practiced tattooing as a sign of courage. They
imprinted indelible images of their idols on their skin. Tattoos were present in the western world mostly on the
bodies of seamen returning from the South Pacific (Jablonski, 2008). Sailors often returned to port with tattoos
they received during their voyage. More precisely, in this time tattoos were used as amulets, to show a status
symbol, religion believes or a way of punishment. Furthermore, tattoos not disappear thorough out history. In
fact, tattoos started to be more popular as time passed.
Consequently, tattoos started to become popular among common people, but this art also started to be
associated with what it is known as socially accepted people. For instance, King George V and later Edward
VII were tattooed (with a dragon and a cross, respectively), and foreign courts followed the British Court's lead,
sparking a rash of tattooed royalty during the nineteenth century (Jablonski, 2008). Consequently tattoo art
become more socially accepted as important people started to use it. However this social acceptances of
tattoos does not apply for all people. For hundreds of years the practice of tattooing was believed to be
reserved for cultural outcasts, poor people and criminals.
In the twenty century, common people who have tattoos are victims of criticism from different social groups that
consider tattoos are unacceptable. Tattoos are still commonly associated with being symbols for gang
members or any criminal organizations. In addition, People with tattoos time to time are considered of not
having education, rebellious or having a criminal story. This perception of tattooed people affected them in jobs
interview, inclusive some of them receive discrimination at work. Then, if there is still a social stigma
associated with tattoos, what is the motivation that people have to get a tattoo?
In order to find some answer for tattoo social stigma the better source of information is a real tattoo studio. In
3C Studio, located in the city of Quito, we had the opportunity to speak with the owner, Carlos Carvajal, who
told and taught us a little bit about this world of permanent body modifications. Carlos said that currently the
main reason why people get a tattoo is that right now, everybody is doing it, fashion motivations, but they also
want to know what it feels, and many times, he has found people that had gotten a tattoo to decorate their
bodies. He comperes tattoos with art pieces, and he said that instead of spending their money in a draw,
people does it to have an artistic expression of themselves permanently in their bodies. In addition, have he
told us that many people have tattoos because they want to cover a scar.

As the conversation went on, he said that there are a lot of reason why people get a tattoo, but he said that the
main reasons are to remember what people have achieved in their lives, to find motivation in their dreams, or
to never forget about a family member who passed away. He told us that to many people a tattoo means a
turning point in their lives. As we were there two girls came to the studio in order to get tattoo, one of the girls
told as that the reason why she was getting one was because she was moving to Argentina, and she wanted to
remember her best friend. She told us that she had been friends since they met in a ballet class ten years ago,
and that this tattoo will be a reflection of their bond throughout eternity. After all the pain, the girl got out of the
studio with a ballerina in her right leg.

Finally, as a final question, we asked Carlos if there is a stigma about having a tattoo. He replied, as you can
see, that there are an infinite number of reason why people get a tattoo. The reasons can be as varied as
memories, dreams or loses. He believed that tattoos are becoming more and more acceptable, and that he
have not heard of any kind of recrimination in works or something like that, but many times when he had been
walking in the streets some people cross to the other sidewalk or simple had given him a bad look. He said, I
hope that in a couple years, everybody will realize that we are all the same regardless we are tattooed or not.

What is clear is that tattoos are a real expression of the unique way of any person perceived the world. There
is not a unique reason to get a permanent mark in their body. Today, tattooing is more popular and accepted
than it has ever been before. Tattoos has earned a respect not seen for over a thousand years. Therefore, if
anyone is considering having a permanent memory of a transcendental moment in ones life, why not going to
3C studio or anywhere else in the city (with good hygiene conditions of course) and get a tattoo.

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REFERENCES
Cate, L. (2007). Tattoos The Ancient and Mysterious History. Smithsonian.com.
Jablonski, N. (2008). Probing Question: What is the history of tattooing? PENN STATE NEWS.
TATOO TEMPLE. (2016). Despite immense popularity, the practice has not left much of an historical record.
Obtenido de Tattoo Temple: http://tattootemple.hk/the-guide/history-of-tattooing