Tattooing

I want to begin to explore the history of tattooing and it's significance of the practice to my current project, after all tattoos are something that are always associated with tribes and people from a 'Wild Kingdom'.

Interestingly, tattoos do not originate from one place in particular, instead developing independently and gradually across the globe. There has been evidence of tattoos on female Egyptian mummies dating between as far as 2160 to 1994 BCE. This particular image is the hand of an ancient priestess who was buried in the same pyramid as Pharaoh Mentuhotep of the 11th Dynasty. According to findings it was only ever really women who were found tattooed in this way, women who had some sort of religious significance.

Otzi's tattoos found alongside his spine.

Another early example (even earlier than the Ancient Egyptians  can be found in Otzi the Iceman, a mummified body dating from roughly 3300 BCE. He was found in the Otz Alps in Italy, and upon inspection it was discovered that his body had roughly 57 carbon tattoos.

What I find particularly interesting about Otzi's tattoos is that unlike most examples of tattoos that have been found amongst tribes or ancient civilizations, his didn't appear to relate to his rank or social status. Neither did they appear to be for decoration. Instead, the positions of the tattoos on the mummified body seemed correlated with common areas used for acupuncture today. This suggests that tattoos have been used medicinally as well as just for show.

Since these very early examples, tattoos have appeared all over the world to represent a number of different meanings; ranking, bravery, sexual lures, fertility, beauty, political statements and negatives marks also, often to show up social outcasts or victims of slavery. I find tattoos such as these, tattoos with real purpose and meaning behind them completely fascinating. Whilst living in a culture today where so many people commit to inking their skin without really thinking about it first, it's astonishing to think of other people in the world who rely upon these marks as a visual definition of who they are. Below are some example of tattoos like these:

Tear-drop tattoos famously signify the wearer having killed somebody or their loss of a loved one or fellow gang member, in which case the tear-drop is sometimes left without being filled in. It is completely coloured once the death of the loved one has been revenged.

Notorious motorcycle gang Hells Angels are often identified by their gang tattoos, such as the letters AFFA  (Angel Forever, Forever Angel) often found on the knuckles or belly of the wearer.

Fulani girls have their bottom lip tattooed when they start puberty. It is a mark of beauty.

Completed around the age of 17, the mouth tattoo would signify that the Ainu woman was ready for marriage, whereas for a male, it would be the growth of his beard. The last known woman to have these markings died in 1998.

And if that wasn't enough I have stumbled across this little beauty, maybe not one for the squeamish: 

Dead Prisoner's Tattoos

To see my own work representing tattoos check out my posts, Re-Creating Tattoos and RODARTE

References:
http://www.xtimeline.com/evt/view.aspx?id=53878
http://thefutureisyesterday.tumblr.com/
http://d21c.com/zenegata/ainu18.html
http://bajanbeautyblogger.wordpress.com/2012/06/12/what-to-wear-to-a-meeting-with-creative-people/
http://motorcyclemaniac.wordpress.com/2011/11/28/hells-angelsthe-story-is-the-same-all-over-the-world/

Face Doodles

In yesterday's lecture we were introduced to a designer and artist named Jean-Luc Moerman who has taken images of models and icons, and reworked the images using his distinctive style to produces some very interesting images:

I am including these images to show how Moerman's style of penwork and his choice to work it over the skin in these images, results in a tattoo-like finish. There is something very tribal about these, especially the face of Barack Obama where around the nose your could even suggest there has been influence from the traditional Maori tattoos.

Another artist I have been fortunate enough to stumble across is Nina Chakrabati. She is an illustrator, and much like Moerman, a lot of her design work is applied to already existing photos of models. Here are some examples of her work:

The thing I love about Chakrabati's work so much is the wildness of it. It is far less controlled and constrained than that of Moerman's and she has allowed herself to really feel her way around the models face, drawing what comes naturally. I believe the result of this is a much more tribal feel to her images. They appear raw, intriguing and even slightly scary, all the emotions I find myself feeling when looking at the body art of a tribe or culture for the first time.

I have even tried to have a go at this style myself:

Photographs from a hairstyle magazine, re-worked using black fine liner.

References:
http://jean-luc-moerman.be/
http://www.emptykingdom.com/main/featured/jean-luc-moerman/
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=373089156068997&set=a.311682622209651.77315.141035915940990&type=3&theater

Tongue Tied

I am excited to explore the exotic ways in which the tribes of this planet choose to decorate themselves. From my first lecture on this topic, there was one image in particular that stood out to me. This was of an African woman decorated in brightly coloured beads with a dyed blue tongue. This image was editorial but it made want to research further the ways in which some tribes may have used this body part to relate meaning.

Here is an image of a tribesman from Papua New Guine. Note how the Tongue is a vivid red, in stark comparison to the already dark skin now painted black.  This is a good example of how tribes use bold colour and contrast to instil fear amongst potential enemies. The dyes used would all be natural.

I think adding a dash of colour in this way could really add to my final look. It's a hint, a suggestion of something, something internal that can only be seen if the wearer decided to show you. It's shocking and unexpected.

I have not been able to find many other visual examples of tongue tattooing or dying, although I do know that the Buddhist monks of Wat Bang Phra used spiritual tattoos used to enhance people's speech and interpretation skills. These were applied directly to the tongue using a needle and they have been doing this for centuries.

A modern interpretation of this look can be found in Vogues's editorial spread "Green Girls" in April 2011. Styled by Marie Chaix, it is clear there have been some tribal influences, for example the grass bodice worn by the model resembles something similar to the clothing seen to be made by Native Americans.

I think the unexpected and unexplained green tongue helps to add almost a bit of humour to the work, whilst also keeping it exciting. It also helps to tie the natural look together in such an unpredictable way. 

Another example I have found is in this stunning image by Herring & Herring for D Magazine:

I love how the tongue is a real focus in this image and with each of them being changed in colour, weather dye or post production was used, it adds a real sense of fun to the photograph and just goes to show how creative you can be with this theme.

If I were to achieve a similar look to this one I would have to explore various way in which to do so safely.. My best bet probably asking my model to suck a few ice lollies!

References:

http://static.flickr.com/78/225101541_438098d2a7.jpg
http://www.vanishingtattoo.com/tattoo_museum/thailand_tattoos.html
http://www.myfacehunter.com/2011/04/green-girls-vogue-paris-april-2011.html
http://bumbumbum.me/2009/11/18/tribal-by-herring-herring/

Wild Ones

I am a hair and make-up university student and for my second year project I have been given the task of exploring the tribal and physical transformation of humans. My project is entitled WILD KINGDOM and on this blog i'll be including anything I find relevant and interesting. In no less than six weeks time, I will be creating two looks for my very own Wild Ones. The first, a look appropriate for a high fashion catwalk, the second, a much more extreme, avant-garde look suitable for editorial style work.

To get me started I have created a tribal mood board. This helps me to look at a wide range of colour and style used in tribal dress and design before I think about translating this to a fashion look. Hope you like!

Next, I have gathered fashion and editorial images to show how the theme of 'tribal' influences the fashion world today:

I really like this mood board and the extra vividness that comes with it being a fashion approach to tribal attire. I like the ide of mixing up tribal design, and the rough natural texture that comes with it, with completely unnatural colours.