Body Art And Tattoos

Body art is a way of expressing oneself.  Tattoos, piercings, and other forms of body art are all artistic creations and ways of altering one’s body for the purpose of art and expression. 

Body art and tattoos go hand in hand, being that tattoos are the most popular form of body art.  Fifteen percent of the population in the United States have tattoos.  That’s a lot of ink.

People have been decorating their bodies for centuries.  Since 3000 B.C. people have been tattooing, piercing, and painting themselves.  For some, it was a mandatory part of their culture and traditions.  For others, it was an indication of their status in society.  Other reasons include identity, change, symbolic significance, religion, universality, or…they simply liked the way they looked when they were covered in body art and tattoos. 

The various forms of body art allow us to alter our bodies in many different ways, sometimes offering us a certain power or incentive.  Some Native American tribes would paint themselves during rituals or get extensive tattoos as a rite of passage.  In Japan, people would get their entire back tattooed with certain symbols that held powers, thinking that they too, would acquire these special powers.  In Burma, they believed that tattoos were able to stop bullets.  In Polynesia, Maori men would often use tattoos to appear tough during battle, and in England, certain piercings were signs of status. 

Body art is an alternative way of creating art on canvas.  Using our bodies as the actual canvas enables us to enjoy the artwork all the time.