The Art and Stories of Tattoo Culture
The controversial work of artist William Delvoye
Portland, Oregon has been a nexus for tattoo culture for some time. I lived there for four years, from 2002 until 2006, and in that time I got a tattoo of my own and watched many people I knew become canvases for the many tattoo artists in the city. The number of tattoo parlors nearly comes close to the density of strip clubs, which only that city could translate into an accomplishment. They have a lot of bookstores, too. But there has always been a line in the sand between tattoo culture and fine art. Tattoos are works of art; they are conceived and executed by practitioners honing their craft, yet tattoo artists are not grouped with painters or collage artists or even sculptors (another group of artist who work in three dimensions), even though very often it is the case that a tattoo artist will be a fine artist as well. This line may now be dissolving, albeit slowly.
On June 20, The Portland Art Museum began an exhibition titled Making Portland: The Art of Tattoo. The exhibition aims to develop and investigate the cultural and social implications of the tattoo in Portland. The history of the tattoo will be placed in relation to works in the museum’s permanent collection, thus aligning the tattoo and fine art in one space. In many ways, this exhibition is a recognition of the work of tattoo artists. It communicates that their work, their hours toiling away on fleshy canvases should be acknowledged just as other artists more recognized by the canon. To get the community involved–and this falls along the lines of my post about museums in the interactive era–the museum wants citizens who have gotten their tattoos in Portland, Oregon to submit images to the museum’s Flickr page. From that collection, they will select images to be displayed in a multi-media presentation in the Whitsell Auditorium, part of the Northwest Film Center.
This exhibition, however, is not the only spotlight on Portland tattoo culture this summer. Spiegel & Grau, an imprint of Random House, has just published Tattoo Machine: Tall Tales, True Stories, and My Life in Ink by Jeff Johnson, co-owner of Sea Tramp Tattoo, a tattooing institution with more than 25 years of history in the rainy city. Tattooing is one of the few professions in which two people are in close quarters for what can be an very extended period of time. Tattoo artist and tattoo subject share a life altering experience together, one in which pain, blood, and careful execution are the pertinent currency. People who get tattoos often have interesting tales to tell, and, over the course of giving a tattoo, stories emerge, people talk. From The Washington Times review:
Mr. Johnson writes, “Every tattoo has a story. Every cover up has two.” What is an artist to do if he or she, heaven forbid, misspells a word or, worse, a name? It happens more than you’d think, apparently. Even Mr. Johnson has done it, as he tells us in one particularly funny but scarifying account.
The book is sure to entertain those who have an interest in tattoo culture delivered firsthand from one of the legends in the business and art form.
via BOOK REVIEW: Every tattoo has a story – Washington Times
via Portland Art Museum | Marking Portland: The Art of Tattoo:
Related articles by Zemanta
- Flickr Finds: Small Portland Kitchen (apartmenttherapy.com)
Post Your Comment
You must be logged in to post a comment
T/S Members
Log in with your True/Slant account.
Nick, what made you decide to get a tattoo? Do you mind sharing what it is and where? The idea of going near a needle voluntarily — except for vaccinations or anesthesia — isn’t workable for me.
Caitlin,
When I got my tattoo I kind of just felt it was the right thing to do. I might have been wrapped up in the momentum of everyone else around me getting them, but I am still happy with the decision. The tattoo is a Tibetan mantra Oh mani padme hum, written in Tibetan. It is a phrasing that is connected to Chenrezig, the Buddhist God of compassion and wisdom. It’s a protective phrase as well. On the bottom the writing are waves and above are flames.
In response to another comment. See in context »i’d sooner get a tattoo than any vaccination!
In response to another comment. See in context »[...] See the full article from “True/Slant” [...]
Nick, thanks for this education in tattoo culture. I’ll add it to my repertoire. Tattoos seem to run in my family. My dad and I are both “fainters” where getting needles at the doc’s office are concerned, but I’ve got five tattoos and never flinched. I guess the distinction between being “punctured” and “grazed” is important for my freak-out factor.
When I got my tattoo I was surprised that it only hurt on certain parts of my arm, the inside in particular. Awesome that you have five. I will have another as soon as I get the idea of what I want.
In response to another comment. See in context »Nick, Do you know that John Irving novel about the woman tattoo artist, told from the point of view of her son as the travel around the country and Europe — “Until I Find You? It has stories that make tattoo artists sound like the Pirates of Penzance. There’s a romance to it you don’t find in any other art form — graffitti, but for the skin. Great post. Thx!
Vickie,
I do not know that novel. But I will definitely have to check it out now. There is something romantic about tattoo artists, isn’t there. That they are changing peoples’ bodies forever makes it such an interesting line of work to go into.
In response to another comment. See in context »Don’t forget the oldie but goodie, Ray Bradury’s Illustrated Man, whose tattoos would come to life.
Caitlin,
Good point. You know, there must be out there somewhere a tattoo literature reading group.
In response to another comment. See in context »A good “ink” movie if you like Japanese films is Irazumi, beautifully photographed and some really beautiful traditional Japanese tats.
So Nick are you going to stop at one or are you going for more work. I started out just to get one, and now have about 17, depending on how you count.
Brian,
I’ll have to check out this movie as well. I find the Japanese and Polynesian tattoo some of the most beautiful. They have been doing it forever. I have a friend actually who studied abroad in Samoa and when he was there he got a big tattoo on his back in the traditional method. They bang the ink into your skin with a sculpted bone with ink on it. he said it was the most painful thing he had ever endured, but worth it. As far as mine go, I still only have one, but will soon have another. Just have to figure out where to put it and where to get it.
In response to another comment. See in context »As someone whose sweetie is a Buddhist, I’m familiar with the phrase and its meaning. Hope it’s working for you.