If the body is a Temple, why not decorate the walls?
Tattooing As Temporary Art:
Tattooing seems to be the one, true temporary art form.
While many in our society tend to see tattoos as representing some sort of permanence, I would assert the opposite is more true. Unless you have a lot of money and/or an extraordinarily high pain threshold to get an entire bodysuit done in a few sessions, more accurately (for the rest of us) tattooing involves the work of a lifetime. For most, that includes a degree of personal change and thus changes to tattoos and taste over the years.
It is extraordinarily common to have at least one tattoo removed, covered up, or altered; to do this is to acknowledge personal growth and change. It is not always a bad thing, no matter how deep the regret because the act of reclaiming means even more. This also goes for tattoo quality. I can honestly say some of my worst tattoos are some of my favorites because of the associated memories; and I still wouldn't change them for the world.
No matter how much you try, the canvas will change and eventually become one with the earth once more. You cannot preserve it anymore than you can preserve life itself.
Cultural & Ancestral Art
Tattooing is still one of the only examples of mobile art AND simultaneously one of the oldest art-forms in human history. Human remains dating to hundreds and thousands of years BCE have been found with intricate ink.
Moreover, tattooing has (and still does) play deep cultural and psychological roles. Tattooing can be a mark of the tribe -both current and past - the clan, race, and family. Similarly, it can both simultaneously and solely represent individuality and personal uniqueness.
Personal Significance
Tattooing can make us feel better about personal appearance and has been used to both draw attention to or away from disability or deformity. Tattooing often signifies an important transition and/or the greatest constant of one's life.
Psychologically, tattoos can be used to impress upon or project to others a variety of feelings including intimidation, inspiration, admiration, and at the very least curiosity. One of my favorite modern genres is that of the humorous tattoo. Even public are on their own bodies people are expressing a sentiment that "life's not permanent, this body isn't either, but there's no point if you can't laugh about it and enjoy the time for what it is." And I think that's become much of the younger generations' means of coping with this currently wiley and unpredictable technological age.
Even closer to home, memorial tattoos have become a significant way of commemorating that which it important to us and now passed on; whether it's pet, passion, place, or person.
Gothic BCE and Tattooing
For me, tattooing has been many and more of all these things. I tattoo myself heavily but none outside of my family. I would pursue a license but I intend to live rurally making steady customers unlikely and it just does not seem to be something I can accomplish financially anyway - at least, not at this time.
If you want to change my mind for me; financial stability is by far my biggest obstacle. Thus purchases of my art in any way, and especially becoming one of my supporters on Patreon go a tremendous distance in bolstering this artist's resolve, ambition and creativity.
All info on gothicbce.bigcartel.com
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