| For hundreds and hundreds of years, cultures | | | | Many men get these tattoos as armbands or as |
| across the globe have used special tribal tattoo | | | | large images on the shoulder; most women |
| designs for individual decoration and communal | | | | request them as an ankle band or as artwork on |
| identification. In recent years, the use of tribal | | | | their lower backs. |
| designs by modern skin artists has grown | | | | Although most modern-day tribal designs do not |
| exponentially to meet the demand from people of | | | | have a particular significance to a tribe or clan, the |
| all ages seeking tattoos of this very nature. | | | | amalgamations that have emerged from the |
| Historically, traditional tribal tattoos have been | | | | many influences belong more to the person |
| utilized by cultures all over the world for | | | | creating the art or the individual wearing it. Many |
| everything from signifying rites of passage and | | | | people find their tribal art tattoos to be a |
| defining social status to augmenting personal | | | | statement of their individuality. |
| beauty and identifying persons of importance. And | | | | Many tribal art designs are comprised of strong, |
| in fact, the designs of tribal tattoos vary as | | | | bold images that are appealing to the eye. They |
| greatly as the cultures from which they come. | | | | are usually characterized by intertwining, thick lines |
| Some tribal art has been traced back to as early | | | | and are often symmetrical in shape. They are |
| as 2000 B.C., and it continues to be used for | | | | frequently filled in black and feature distinctive, |
| cultural and social purposes today. Nearly every | | | | repetitive patterns that are often unique to the |
| continent has contributed some form of | | | | artist who has developed the design. |
| recognizable tribal tattoo art to the modern-day | | | | As more and more men and women seek tribal |
| repertoire. | | | | tattoo designs, the popularity and significance of |
| Tribal tattoo artists may draw from elements | | | | this art will continue to grow. Some people get |
| originally created by the ancient Egyptians, the | | | | tribal art tattoos to pay homage to their |
| North American Indians, West African tribal elders, | | | | ancestors or family roots; others choose a tribal |
| and many, many more. Although most tattoo | | | | design based on what it represents to them. Still |
| seekers today request tribal tattoos based on | | | | others select a tribal design based only on the |
| their visual appeal rather than their social affiliation, | | | | way it looks. But regardless of the reason why it |
| the significance of such art cannot be underrated. | | | | is selected, tribal art offers the wearer the |
| Tribal art has become one of the most requested | | | | opportunity to be part of something larger than |
| types of tattoo designs by men and women alike. | | | | themselves. |