| Definitely Not Your Typical Tattoo | | | | natural locus for my studies. Indeed, the word |
| Polynesian tattoo designs are far more than a | | | | 'tattoo' emerged from their language, (originating |
| mere piece of decorative body art. Tribal art | | | | from the Tahitian term - 'Tatu', meaning - "to |
| tattoo designs, as often as they're replicated in | | | | mark"). Furthermore, in the absence of any |
| flash designs, were once seen as a link between | | | | written language, those cultures created a form |
| man and the gods in Polynesian culture. As legend | | | | of articulation, dialogue and communication from |
| has it, the Gods taught men the art of tattooing. | | | | their tribal tattoo designs. Various parts of the |
| By being marked through a trial of pain and blood, | | | | body which displayed the jet-black patterns, |
| as the elders claimed, initiates could develop a | | | | symbolized certain facets of their lives, |
| closer relationship with the spiritual world. | | | | experiences and beliefs respectively. |
| Take the Maori and Samoan tribes for example, | | | | Immersed In Both The Culture And The |
| Polynesian tattoo designs were a Tapu, or sacred | | | | Art-Form |
| art form. Thus the revered tattoo artists in these | | | | Having lived for two years in the Marquesas |
| societies, were held in the same esteemed regard | | | | islands, witnessing the art from descendants of |
| as the higher echelon virtuosos of today. Yet the | | | | tribal masters, I've found that Polynesian tattoo |
| community where I lived, saw all tattooing, | | | | designs, for the original islanders, both provided a |
| including tribal art tattoos, as an indication of a | | | | sense of belonging (through the sharing of an |
| degenerate, or at best 'an eccentric' - and | | | | experience), and a sense of individuality. The |
| eccentric is, in many ways, another word for | | | | designs, and their positioning on the body, were |
| contemptible. "Yeah, thanks for the positive | | | | generally decided by one's family history, societal |
| support Dad!" | | | | ranking, succession of maturity and personal |
| Paying Reverence To Islanders' Heritage | | | | achievements. |
| The islanders' history suggests that the Polynesian | | | | I learned first-hand how the Polynesians used |
| conflation of soul with body, and the belief that | | | | symbols, intricate patterns, plus swirling and linear |
| one could gain special advantages in the afterlife, | | | | motifs, to typify storytelling among other |
| through tribal tattoo designs, was far from limited | | | | representations, when composing tribal tattoo |
| to their culture. ("Special advantages in the | | | | designs. Watching the rituals carried out with such |
| afterlife? Well ink me up then!"). Similar beliefs can | | | | primitive, yet effective tools such as bird-bones |
| be found in ancient European and Asian cultures, | | | | for needles and burnt gum from indigenous trees |
| which were responsible for the prevalence of | | | | as ink. At times, they even used burnt vegetable |
| tribal art designs among the natives of North | | | | caterpillars to form a black soot-like pigment to |
| Africa and Papua, New Guinea. | | | | tap into the body using a mallet. |
| The extreme proficiency of Polynesian design | | | | The definitions and history of what they |
| creation, has become renowned amid the great | | | | symbolize, dates back generations, more so than |
| and meaningful art forms the world over. After | | | | any other tattoo art designs that I can |
| all, when people are willing to spend their entire | | | | immediately recall. Other societies across the |
| lives in the presence of such articulated art, and | | | | oceans, have shown a great deal of respect and |
| be judged by everyone that sees it, is truly a | | | | reverence to those island cultures, who took this |
| mark of admiration for such a specialized | | | | form of expression far beyond what we as |
| technique. They are such striking, intriguing and | | | | westerners could typically ever imagine. Plus the |
| alluring forms of expression, I knew I had to have | | | | fact, they really do stand out from other tribal |
| one, or two, or three...I was worried about running | | | | tattoo art, due to their incredibly unique and |
| out of skin space! | | | | distinct appearance. Just like eating peanuts or |
| Polynesian tattoo designs, as one of the last | | | | potato chips...it's extremely difficult to just have |
| surviving sacred forms of body art, were the | | | | one! |