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Tribal armband tattoos represent one of the most popular forms of tattoos available. In many early cultures, it was used to indicate social status and provide spiritual protection. Today they are not only exceedingly cool and trendy, but they are often the first tattoo a person gets as an introduction into tattoo culture. There was a time when nobody knew what a tribal tattoo was. For many years the tribal tattoo style, with its aggressive black lines in sharp symmetrical shapes, was found mainly in African and Pacific Island cultures and nowhere else. For many people in this part of the world, a tribal armband tattoo represented a necessary rite of passage and religious talisman against evil spirits. For the Westerners who saw them they were seen as an exotic example of primitive art and something to be examined---not emulated.
But then in the early 90’s an LA tattoo artist named Leo Zuleta was checking out one of his friend’s tattoo books, which had pictures of Marquesan islanders and their tribal tattoos, and was blown away by their intricacy. He began doing tribal armband tattoos for his LA rock star friends that mixed the early tribal styles with a modern West Coast tattoo technique. When those same rock star friends started showing up on MTV tribal tattoos didn’t just become popular--- they become a worldwide phenomenon. Today these same tribal armband tattoos are referred to as neo-tribal, or pseudo-tribal, depending on the level of your cynicism. Many lament the fact that the visual style of early tribal tattoo art is still there, but that none of the original symbolism remains. These same people forget that the cool thing about tattoos is that the individual gets to choose what they mean—only fair considering they’re the one whose body is going to have the tat. If you’re thinking about getting a tribal armband tattoo—and you’d be crazy not to—make sure you choose a tattoo artist who’s got a lot of experience with them. When done right it’s about the coolest tattoo around, but when done badly…well…don’t worry. But that’s not going to happen to you. You’re going to love your tribal armband tattoo. |
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