Tattoos, or dermal pigmentation, are marks made by inserting pigments into the skin as a form of decorative body modification, and have been a practice throughout Europe and Asia for thousands of years, in fact since Neolithic times. Evidence of tattoos on humans has been found in the Alps some the six thousand years ago, and in Japan some ten thousand years ago. Check out this Tattoo Finder site and search through hundreds of designs.
Historically, Tattooing has been carried out worldwide; from the Maoris of New Zealand, to tribal groups in the Philippines, Borneo, Africa, Central and South America, as well as in Europe, Japan and China. They have served as marks of status and rank, symbols of bravery, fertility, and religious devotion, talismans for protection, and to identify outcasts, slaves, convicts, or particular ethnic groups.
In modern times, tattoos have become popular throughout the world, but in particular in North America, Japan and Europe, and more recently have become part of the ‘pop’ culture, as new artists with fine arts training have become involved in the industry, using advanced techniques and more sophisticated pigmentation.
Body piercing can also trace its origins back to ancient times, with piercing being discovered in mummified bodies found in glaciers, and references can be found in the old testament of the bible to ‘nose rings’ and ‘ear rings’.
The modern body piercing culture seems to have started in North America in the mid twentieth century amongst the gay ‘leather’ S & M subcultures where experiments were made with nipple piercing, and later with genital piercing, and it was at this time that the basic techniques of modern day piercing was developed. By the mid 1980’s, body piercing studios had opened throughout The USA and Europe, and by the late 1990’s, piercing had become part of the mainstream ‘pop’ culture.
Historically, Tattooing has been carried out worldwide; from the Maoris of New Zealand, to tribal groups in the Philippines, Borneo, Africa, Central and South America, as well as in Europe, Japan and China. They have served as marks of status and rank, symbols of bravery, fertility, and religious devotion, talismans for protection, and to identify outcasts, slaves, convicts, or particular ethnic groups.
In modern times, tattoos have become popular throughout the world, but in particular in North America, Japan and Europe, and more recently have become part of the ‘pop’ culture, as new artists with fine arts training have become involved in the industry, using advanced techniques and more sophisticated pigmentation.
Body piercing can also trace its origins back to ancient times, with piercing being discovered in mummified bodies found in glaciers, and references can be found in the old testament of the bible to ‘nose rings’ and ‘ear rings’.
The modern body piercing culture seems to have started in North America in the mid twentieth century amongst the gay ‘leather’ S & M subcultures where experiments were made with nipple piercing, and later with genital piercing, and it was at this time that the basic techniques of modern day piercing was developed. By the mid 1980’s, body piercing studios had opened throughout The USA and Europe, and by the late 1990’s, piercing had become part of the mainstream ‘pop’ culture.