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What type of photo shoots you like doing the most?
Any and every . I don’t have a type I like to be creative though so anything out of the ordinary I love.
What is the weirdest experience you’ve had either at a photoshoot, convention etc?
Being hit on by the photographer and finding out he had done it so many models so I made a page which landed in the news all around the world .
Photo by Tristan Manas
Photo by Tristan Manas
What do you like to do when you’re not modeling?
Relax , work or hang with friends .
What’s your favourite tattoo and why?
I don’t have a favourite. My whole leg would be my favourite . It’s all about horror and gore . I’m a massive horror fan and my whole leg is a mix of that .
If you could get tattooed by anyone, who would it be and why?
Ryan smith tattooist – why his works speaks for its self it’s out of this world !! And I would die to get a piece by him .
Finish this sentence: If I could rule the world for a day I would…
make all my loved ones friends and people I care about set for life . With no worries
So we know models have a lot of “fans” and receive a lot of attention, both online and in-person, some wanted and some definitely not. What’s the worst pick-up line you’ve ever heard?
I’d suck a fart out of your ass . HAHA
Photo by Tristan Manas
Top Three songs on your playlist?
The box – roddy rich Michael Jackson – they don’t care about us Mama – Ellie Goulding
Tell us where to find you online and anything else you want us to know!
You can google My name tayla Novelli which brings up all of my work. All my social media accounts are Insta – Taylaa.jay Facebook – Taylaa jay Twitter – inked_baby_tay Onlyfans – taylajay
Photography by Tristan Manas – https://www.tristanmanas.com/
Something that’s very intriguing to me, is that despite the massive amount of individuals interested in realism tattoos, there are really only a small handful of collectors who have full, *quality* black and grey coverage.
One of these few goes by the name of Monte, and although his collection itself is recognized worldwide, most people still don’t know all too much about him because he is completely off the grid and incredibly mysterious.
In this article, I got the chance to talk to the legendary Robert Pho about his prized and utterly dedicated collector Monte who has one of the absolute greatest bodysuits in the entire game in my humble opinion.
Here we talked about a variety of subjects, including the bond between an artist and a dedicated client, difficulties when designing a full bodysuit, insightful advice for individuals wanting to obtain a top-notch collection, and other specifics about the mysterious Monte who has taken home a countless amount of awards for his body mural by Robert Pho.
I hope you guys enjoy the read.
Monte’s first tattoo by Robert, before he decided he was going to do his whole body.
How often were you tattooing Monty? How many hours and how many sessions?
Once a week for two and a half years straight. I mentioned to him that I was booked out about 6 months in advance and he didn’t want to wait. He asked to get in sooner. I had only one day off a week at that time which was on Sundays. So I explained to him the only way to get in sooner is if I booked you on my only day off. He offered to make it worth my while. I talked it over with the wifey and she gave me the green light to do it. And from that moment on, I booked every sundays of the week for him until we completed it. I had no days off for two and a half years besides holidays, birthdays, etc…
Why do you think Monty decides to be so off the grid?
I’m not sure. He’s a busy man. And very private. You gotta respect that. Not everyone wants to Share or put their business out to the world like that. Crazy to think though right? People would die to have a body suit like his and be able to share that with the world.
What project would you say you are most proud of in Monty’s collection? My personal favorite part of it is his back piece.
Oh God. There are so many on him it’s hard to pick just one. The gangster leg I will always enjoy the most. That leg was always a big hit on social media and at expos.
How much of Monty’s bodysuit was free reign? Or did he decide on a lot of the imagery himself?
I would say majority of his bodysuit was free reign. When we did his family leg, he gave me 5 photos to use for that leg but that was it. Everything else was based on a theme of what he liked. He wanted a gangster theme for his other leg. Then for his arms he wanted a clown theme and a Greek mythology theme. And the rest I came up with and ran with it. The layout and designing was all up to me. That’s as free reign as can be for an artist.
Can you tell me a little about some of the most memorable conversations you had with Monty, if anything stands out to you? Can you talk a little bit about who he is, if you feel comfortable?
From what I know of Monte he was a very shy, quiet but personable guy. I know he was very well-to-do guy by the way he dressed and carried himself. I knew he had served time and had a rough childhood growing up. He had one brother who got killed and another brother who is serving life without parole in which I tattooed both of their portraits on him. I know he is a family man. He’s also a businessman and had all kinds of businesses.
We became good friends over the years and did a few things together. But overall he’s a man of a few words.
On January 2017 I was working on a client at my shop. We had guest artists Kore Flatmo and Ricardo Avila over tattooing as well. We were all having a bbq and grilling in the back of the shop and I get a text from Monte out of nowhere and he sends me 4 pictures of his 4 first place trophies from Golden State Expo in Pasadena Ca. I was so shocked. I didn’t even know he had attended cause I wasnt able to go. He wanted to surprise me and he did. But wow it was such a humble feeling that he had won all first places in the black and grey categories. That was very memorable for me.
Describe to me what you have witnessed as far as Monty going to conventions. What people have said, the looks he’s gotten, comments you’ve heard, etc.
The first thing I always notice is that he is stopped by every one to see his body suit. People would bring other people to come over and look at it. People take pictures of his work the entire day. Seeing peoples faces when they see it first hand for the first time in awe and disbelief. In admiration. Makes me feel very humble. I have seen and heard collectors ask if he was going to enter? And if he is, that they’re not gonna bother entering against him. Lol. I have also witnessed huge famous collectors lose against him whine and complain to judges just being sore losers. I have seen haters just hating on him.
In my opinion Monty has one of the absolute best bodysuits the world has ever seen. Do you think another collector of yours will achieve a suit close to as good as his? Describe to me a little bit about how difficult it is to accomplish what you and Monty have done together.
I appreciate that so much and it means a lot coming from a collector as yourself. I am working on several bodysuits right now. It’s hard to compare because they’re all very different. Like the suit i was working on on my brother. It’s nice too but different from Monte’s. It is very challenging and difficult when creating these bodysuits because it takes a vision. Of course finding the right references and planing on how to mesh and blend to make it all flow. And the dedication and focus you have to spend. Can’t lose track. It’s def not easy. But I have plans on working on projects as comparable to his bodysuit. It’s in the works now.
Top 3 best pieces of advice for other collectors/artists hoping to achieve a bodysuit as beautiful as Monty’s?
Have a vision by planning it all out and spend a lot of time researching for the right references, ideas, etc…What are you going to do that’s different than other artists?
Focus and Grind. Always give 100% of your focus and work on it until it is done. If one day you slack with design, size, placement, or technical, it will show. It’s easy to lose focus. Stay focused.
Be Consistent. Equipment, ink, supplies changes all the time. The longer you wait to work on it, it may not look the same. So it’s very important to finish as soon as you can do it.
What were the top 3 lessons you and he learned along the way during the bodysuit journey?
Not tattooing at expos. Not to say it’s not the thing to do but for me, I can only be in my zone and focus best when I’m by myself in a less busy environment. I have a few mistakes when tattooing him at expos. You easily lose focus and the pressure is insane.
Give yourself some room. A lot of times we had to stop too early or didn’t come to a great stopping point because he would have to leave at certain times every session to catch his flight on that same day. So a lot of times we had to rush the session. Give yourself time. Don’t fly out on the same day of your tattoo. Last thing we want to do is feel rushed.
Get your old tattoos removed before getting tattooed. If you have old tattoos that will need to be covered up, make sure you laser remove it first to get it light enough before getting tattooed and give it enough time to heal. Monte would laser remove other parts of his old tattoos right after every session with me. And every laser session would take about an hour because he had so much to remove. That is just a lot of pain to deal with in one session. And remember this guy’s body never got to heal for two and a half years because he came in once a week.
Can you talk a little bit about the bond you and Monty established over the years, as artist and client…What does that relationship feel like to you, and can you talk about the importance for the artists and collectors sake of building that rapport together and why that is beneficial for the overall end goal.
For me as an artist it is very important to have the best possible relationship with my clients. It’s not just doing a tattoo. We naturally form some sort of bond. The bond that me and Monte established over the course of two and a half years working together is unbreakable. The respect and appreciation we have for one another is something special. Even though we both have our busy schedules we still keep in touch and when we see each other it’s always a blast talking stories and looking at his art that I created.
What would you say are a few of the most difficult aspects of designing an entire body suit?
The most difficult task for me when designing a body suit is when I deal with coverups. Fortunately for us we have a laser removal machine that helps lighten the old tattoos. But it was especially hard in Monte’s case because I wasn’t able to design the entire thing all at once because of the old tattoo. Even though I knew I was going to cover up all of his older tattoos, I still had to wait for him to finish with his laser removal in order for me to see the final canvas before I started designing the coverup. Does that make sense? I had to design everything in different sessions whenever the canvas was ready to go.
When you look at other collectors bodysuit, what are a few of the things that you feel are most important in order to consider it a top-notch collection like Monty’s?
When I look at a collector’s bodysuit. It’s usually a collage of art. The tattoo world is used to that. There is nothing wrong with that. It’s your body and viewers have to respect it. But if I had to say what would make it even more top-notch is the design flow and blending of the artwork. But it’s almost impossible to do this because every artists work is different. What I would suggest for the next level collector to do, is to pick out all of your artists that you would like to collect from. Have them all be involved in the designing process of the bodysuit and then one at a time get your tattoo done by each of the artists. This way it will all be pre-planned, and you will have a body suit that is top notch as the end result with not only the technical aspects from the artists but the design and flow now have an appealing look and it will be more soothing for the viewers eyes.
Thank you to anyone who took the time to read/view this article, hope you enjoyed.
Also a huge thank you to Robert for his time. Be sure to follow him on Instagram @robert_pho and @skindesigntattoos.
Hécate is a French tattoo artist that loves to do things a little differently. This very atypical take on the couple ‘King and Queen’ tattoo design is just a perfect example of the quirkiness this artist brings to their work.
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Disclaimer:*** I do not own any of the photographs I post,…
“A tattooed girl who will forever look tougher than she actually is”. This is how American tattoo model Megham Ceallaigh introduced herself to Tattoo Life, in between describing herself, the job she loves so much as a makeup artist and her passion for music, her lifeblood. And about her enjoyment of playing with her image by changing her look.
Megham Ceallaigh, tattoo model
Hello Meghan where are you from and where do you live? I was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, settled with my family in Eugene, OR.
Megham Ceallaigh, tattoo model
You are a make up artist, is that correct? That’s correct! I have been a working makeup artist for 14 years now. I work primarily in the bridal industry, getting brides glammed for their big day. It’s an honor I never take lightly.
Megham Ceallaigh, tattoo model
You like to play with your image, you change the color of your hear, you do different make up for your face and your eyes. What is the portrait of yourself that you prefer to share? I’ve always loved to change up my look. I don’t think I’ve seen my natural hair color since 7th grade!
The way we’re able to play with our appearance through hair and makeup, it’s almost like embodying different characters.
Some days I feel more classic in a winged eyeliner and red lip, other days I want a grungy smoky eye and nude lip or bold colors. Possibilities are endless!
Megham Ceallaigh, tattoo model
You are a huge collector of tattoos. How did you get involved in this world and when did you start to get tattoos? I’ve always known I wanted to be heavily tattooed. I had an older cousin, Russell, who I looked up to immensely, who had them and I thought he was the ultimate in cool. I got my first tattoo when I was 17 and it just continued from there, though I didn’t start getting tattoos in very visible areas until my mid 20’s. Now I just see all the spaces I have left to fill!
Megham Ceallaigh, tattoo model
You love colorful tattoos, right? I do love color for my tattoos! I’m so dang pale, I figured I’d try to be as bright as possible.
Megham Ceallaigh, tattoo model
How do you choose the tattoo artists and the pieces you want on your body? In the beginning, I put a lot more sentimental meaning behind each piece. At this point in my tattoo collector journey, I find an artist whose style I really appreciate and just give them a rough idea of things I like and let them run with it.
It’s more about having a piece of their art for me than a specific tattoo idea.
Megham Ceallaigh, tattoo model
Have you ever thought to become a tattoo artist yourself? I’ve honestly never thought about becoming a tattoo artist myself because I am absolutely atrocious at drawing haha! Makeup is the art medium for me but I’m in awe of other artistic abilities.
Megham Ceallaigh, tattoo model
What are your main interests? Art, music and fashion. Music is my lifeblood. It’s where I find a ton of inspiration. No matter how you’re feeling, there’s music for it.
Megham Ceallaigh, tattoo model
What do you like to do in your free time? I’m such a homebody these days! I spend most of my time with my husband, our almost 7 year old kiddo and our two rescue pups. If I do go out, it’s usually to a punk show with my brother or a restaurant with friends. The chaos that was my younger years has made me wildly appreciative of the seemingly mundane.
Megham Ceallaigh, tattoo model
Last questions: how would you describe yourself: a tattooed girl with? A tattooed girl who will forever look tougher than she actually is (winks)
People choose to full sleeve tattoo removal due to various reasons. Does your full sleeve tattoo hold a special place in your heart or are the result of impulsive behavior?
But, where do you have to look for possibilities for removing tattoos that you don’t want now? Whatever the reason, full sleeve tattoo removal is not something to be simple. It is common today to remove the tattoo that ever has past love memorabilia. The one reason does not deserve to have it again.
Maybe you are concerning that your symbol of youthful self-expression could create problems in your new career. If now you have a shot at a terrific job in banking, still one of the more conservative businesses around.
There are many factors to consider before undergoing full sleeve tattoo removal. Of course, removing it’ll be a real challenge to you. Some are not happy with the quality of the work of art, but the others thinking that it no longer represents who you are. There are more important shortlists below.
The Process Of Full Sleeve Tattoo Removal
As you get your tattoo, ink slowly absorbs deeper into the skin. This is the reason older tattoos look less vibrant and lost. What you see is the ink particles are too large absorbing into your body. Therefore, older tattoo removal will not take as long as a new one.
When Do You Have To Remove The Tattoo?
As you get your tattoo, ink slowly absorbs deeper into the skin. This is the reason that old tattoos look less vibrant and lost. What you see is the ink particles are too large absorbing into your body. Therefore, the older full sleeve tattoo removal will not take as long as a new one.
What Is The Quality Of The Ink?
Another thing to consider when you get full sleeve tattoo removal doing by an amateur; probably the ink quality is lower. On the other hand, a professional, using good ink to keep it bright and alive over the years. In addition, professional tattoo artists will use ink that is deep enough to penetrate the layers of the skin that is the amateur has no one. This means your full sleeve tattoo removal effort will take longer and require more visits is doing by a professional.
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You may regret getting a tattoo, but do not just stop on regretting since there are many ways to full sleeve tattoo removal.
What Color Is Your Skin?
Because you want your tattoo to be permanent, so the artists have to inject the ink to penetrate the dermis. This is the second layer of your skin. For an effort full sleeve tattoo removal, the ink must be broken down to damage your dermis. Unfortunately, that means if you have a darker skin tone, you will most likely need an extra session than people with lighter skin.
What Is Your Overall Health?
Your overall health can impact the success of your full effort. Usually, young people with a healthy lifestyle require fewer sessions than the older sessions. In addition, if you are a smoker, you’ll need more visits than not smokers. Smoking will make narrow the blood vessels, it more difficult to perform full effort the pressure.
Full sleeve tattoo removal is a big decision for anyone. These factors may help you to understand exactly what your expectation is. It will determine whether it was the right step or not. Whatever it is, kept in mind that full sleeve tattoo removal may take a while, so don’t expect it will be gone in a matter of minutes.
That’s why just look for the professional artist that can do the best quality of their jobs. The last thing to remember for full sleeve tattoo removal is you must be ready for brand new of your look.
Tell us, how would you describe yourself in a few sentences?
A horror loving tattooed model with a big heart, and a soft spot for friends, famil, drag, and pizza!
What inspired you to get into tattoo modeling?
I got into modeling first. I acquired heavy tattoos rather quickly, so it just came hand and hand after that.
What type of photo shoots you like doing the most?
My favorite type of shoots to do is gore, or spooky shit!
What is the weirdest experience you’ve had either at a photoshoot, convention etc?
I’ve had tons of weird experiences at both shoots and conventions. Sometimes people just don’t clash! And hey, thats ok!
What do you like to do when you’re not modeling?
When I’m not modeling I’m pretty introverted. To be completely honest, modeling is one of things i enjoy doing to break away from that.
What’s your favorite tattoo and why?
My favorite tattoo is a Regina George (Mean Girls) in a headdress, after getting hit by the bus. Done by a long time friend of mine, Joey Harris.
If you could get tattooed by anyone, who would it be and why?
If I could get tattooed by anyone it would Alexandra Fische because I’m pretty much obsessed with anything she put out!
Finish this sentence: If I could rule the world for a day I would…
If I could rule the world for a day I would give everyone free healthcare. 🙂
So we know models have a lot of “fans” and receive a lot of attention, both online and in-person, some wanted and some definitely not. What’s the worst pick-up line you’ve ever heard?
Worst? Oh, thats hard! Probably the typical “Hey beautiful” is the worst. Theres usually nothing good that ever comes out of that, coming from a stranger.
Top three songs in your playlist?
-Landon Tewers: Something to Lose -Billie Eilish: Bad Guy -Bring Me the Horizon: In the Dark
Tell us where to find you online and anything else you want us to know!
NEW YORK, NY (April 29, 2020) – Today, Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum launches #SupportYourArtist, a global social media campaign aimed to help raise money and awareness for tattoo artists impacted by Covid-19. To honor Norman “Sailor Jerry” Collins and the artists whose work speaks for itself, Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum will launch the #SupportYourArtist campaign by pre-purchasing original Sailor Jerry tattoos from 10 artists around the globe including four in the United States, with the mission to put tattoo artists back to work.
#SupportYourArtist will be an ongoing initiative where Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum will encourage consumers to participate and support their favorite local artists by purchasing some of their artwork, flash sheets or like Sailor Jerry, pre-purchasing tattoos during this pandemic. Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum will give $1,000 to the following U.S. tattoo artists: Keith Underwood from Austin Tattoo Company, Isaac Combs from Chapter One, Michelle Myles from Daredevil, and Greg Christian from Tattoo Faction to promote and giveaway original Sailor Jerry tattoos of their choice while sharing how fans can help support their community.
“True to our brand heritage, this campaign was crafted to honor and support many of those we’re fortunate enough to call our friends and traditional tattoo artists around the Globe,” said Gemma Kane, Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum Global Brand & Culture Ambassador. “We’re buying future tattoos and driving awareness on how you too can #SupportYourArtist.”
Starting Saturday, May 9, Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum will begin the ‘Bunker Bar’ series, where fans can join Sailor Jerry’s live Instagram and interact with the participating tattoo artists. Every week, ‘Bunker Bar’ will feature different tattoo artists for a live Q&A, bring to life ‘how to’ draw your favorite Sailor Jerry iconic flash designs and more all while sipping on Sailor Jerry cocktails.
“Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum originated from old school tattooing, and it’s at the heart of what Sailor Jerry is,” says Josh Hayes, Senior Brand Manager of Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum. “We want to be there for the tattoo artists that have always been there for us.”
You can follow along on @sailorjerry Instagram for the ‘Bunker Bar’ schedule and details on how to tune in. To keep up with the artists around the globe, you can follow their Instagram channels: Keith Underwood from Underwood Austin Tattoo Company @underwoodtatoo, Isaac Combs from Chapter One @issacjctattoo, Greg Christian from Tattoo Faction @gregchristian4130, Michelle Myles from Daredevil @daredevilmichelle, Aaron Hingston from Hen’s Teeth Tattoo Co. @Aaron_Hingston, Patty from The Lions Den Tattoo @Luxuryseals, Robert Poliri from Black Cobrata Tattoo Glasglow @Roberto_poliri_tattooer, Adrian Willard from Tiger Temple Studio @adrianwillard, Foxy Lady from Dildo Tattoo @foxy_lady11, Manny from Homeward Bound @Manny_tattooer, and Haris Nez from 7th Sense @haris.nez. To learn more about Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum, visit www.sailorjerry.com.
RESPECT HIS LEGACY. DRINK SAILOR JERRY RESPONSIBLY. NEVER DRINK & DRIVE. 2020 Sailor Jerry Rum, 46% Alc./Vol. William Grant & Sons, Inc. New York, NY.
About Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum was created to honor Norman “Sailor Jerry” Collins, a Navy vet who built his rep inking soldiers and sailors in WWII-era Honolulu where he established his legendary tattoo parlor and himself as the undisputed father of American old school tattooing. Crafted in the traditional Navy way by William Grant & Sons, Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum is bold and smooth, with hints of caramel and vanilla. Just like the man who inspired it, this 92-proof rum speaks for itself and holds itself to the traditional values and standards of craftsmanship that Norman Collins espoused. Made in America from Caribbean Rum and blended with spices including ginger, cinnamon, clove and vanilla, Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum is an exceptionally smooth drink with an ABV of 46%. From the liquid itself to the packaging, every detail of Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum stays true to the vision of Norman “Sailor Jerry” Collins. For more information, visit www.sailorjerry.com or follow www.twitter.com/sailorjerry and www.facebook.com/SailorJerry.
About William Grant & Sons
William Grant & Sons Holdings Ltd. is an independent family-owned distiller headquartered in the United Kingdom and founded by William Grant in 1887. Today, the global premium spirits company is run by the fifth generation of his family and distils some of the world’s leading brands of Scotch whisky, including the world’s most awarded single malt Glenfiddich®, The Balvenie® range of handcrafted single malts and the world’s third largest blended Scotch, Grant’s®, as well as other iconic spirits brands such as Hendrick’s® Gin, Sailor Jerry® Spiced Rum, Tullamore D.E.W.® Irish Whiskey, Monkey Shoulder® Blended Malt Scotch Whisky and Drambuie® Scotch Liqueur.
William Grant & Sons has been honored as “Distiller of the Year” by the prestigious International Wine & Spirit Competition and International Spirits Challenge 12 times over the past 13 years, including the most recent award in 2019.
Founded in 1964, William Grant & Sons USA is a wholly-owned subsidiary of William Grant & Sons, Ltd. and features one of the fastest growing spirits portfolios in the US with brands including Glenfiddich, The Balvenie, Hendrick’s Gin, Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum, Tullamore D.E.W. Irish Whiskey, Drambuie, Milagro Tequila, Fistful of Bourbon, Grant’s, Hudson Whiskey, Gibson’s Finest, Monkey Shoulder, Clan MacGregor, Reyka Vodka, Solerno Blood Orange Liqueur, Flor de Caña Rum, The Knot and Raynal French Brandy. For more information on the company and its brands, please visitwww.williamgrantusa.com.
Daniel Moreno Giron, an Orlando based tattoo artist, did this watercolor style tattoo depicting a wave and the Sun, with splashes of yellow, orange and blue. Three sisters got the tattoo done on the inside of their wrists, creating a new layer of unbreakable love among siblings.
They say blank skin is merely a canvas for a story waiting to be told so it should come as no surprise that a quarter of the British public have tattoos. That’s right, tattoos have been experiencing a resurgence in popularity in recent years, with many individuals looking to ink to claim their identity and take back their narrative.
While Tattoos may be having a moment now with the rise of the gothcore aesthetic, it’s important to remember that they have been an integral part of human culture for thousands of years. From spiritual and religious beliefs to social and political affiliations, tattoos have been used as markers to establish identity and a sense of belonging.
In reality, everything in life has some form of significance. Art, of course, is one of those aspects that carries with it a great deal of symbolism. Surprisingly, even if you’re playing a random online slot game at NoDeposit365 sites that give free spins bonuses, it’s got its set of themes and scatter symbols, some of which carry more meanings than others. From Greek mythology to Egyptology, many games’ characters are lifted from ancient stories from ancestors who have shaped history. Therefore it’s not surprising that something as meaningful as a tattoo can carry with it a powerful cultural message.
Where It All Began
Humans have marked their bodies with tattoos for thousands of years. While the practice of tattooing has varied greatly across different cultures and time periods, the evidence of their existence dates back to prehistoric times.
Since their inception, tattoos have been used to mark individuals as members of a particular tribe or community, holding deep symbolic significance and cultural meaning. This can be seen with the Maori people of New Zealand who traditionally tattooed their faces and bodies with intricate designs as a way of representing their identity, status, rank, and geographic origin, within their tribe.
Māori tattoo art also holds deep spiritual meaning, possessing magical abilities believed to be bestowed by God, etched into a tribe member’s moko (face) and body. Additionally, for the Maori people tattoos were used as an individual’s identity card, representing significant milestones in their life, from childhood to marriage to even bravery in war.
In Japanese culture, tattoos have traditionally been associated with certain themes and motifs, such as dragons, koi fish, and cherry blossoms, all with their own symbolic significance. Similarly to the Maori people, tattoos in Japan have also been used to show allegiance to certain groups or organizations, such as yakuza gangs.
On the other hand, to ancient Greek and Romans, tattoos were used as a form of punishment and humiliation, used to mark criminals and slaves as a way of identifying them as outcasts from society. Similarly in ancient China, tattoos were highly stigmatized and used to brand convicted felons with facial tattoos as a warning to other members of society that they were untrustworthy.
From Subculture To Pop Culture
From high-status symbols to barbaric and shameful marks, it’s no question that throughout history tattoos have received drastically different characterizations. So where do they stand today? Just like any other trend, tattoos come in and out of fashion. Their new wave of popularity has been aided by their mass adoption by public figures such as celebrities, athletes, and people within the fashion industry.
It is becoming increasingly difficult to find a major celebrity without ink. Pop megastar Justin Bieber got his first tattoo aged 16. Now he has around 60 covering his arms, chest and legs, including one of his ex-girlfriend Selena Gomez’s face on his wrist. While David Beckham has been known to sport a lot of ink, featuring around 60 tattoos across his body, it’s his son that has been dominating the headlines as of late. Brooklyn Beckham famously has 100 tattoos, 70 of which are dedicated to his recent wife Nicola Peltz.
Social media has also revolutionized the tattoo industry, allowing tattoo artists to gain more exposure and grow their businesses. Previously, if a tattoo artist landed a big-name client they would need to have a magazine feature or go on tv to promote their work in hope of gaining more traction. Today, their next client is just a click away. Image-sharing apps like Instagram also help to dictate the tattooing trends, such as the sticker sleeve popularized by Harry Styles and small minimalist tattoos in white ink, as seen sported by Kendall Jenner.
