hey say that “imitation is the sincerest form of flattery”. In many cases, this is true. Imitation is important in many cultures. Children learn by imitating their parents. Teens seek acceptance from their peers by imitating fashion trends, choices in music and even linguistic phrases. Even adults will often imitate their mentors to show their respect and admiration. But there are situations when imitation is actually an insult, not flattery. Ta Moko is one of those situations.

Ta Moko is the tapu (sacred) form of family and personal identification among those of Maori whakapapa (genealogy). Genealogy is so important to the Maori people that they know their family history back 2000 years. Moko is the process of carving (cutting deep grooves) and coloring a family history story-telling pattern into the skin of a Maori descendant. It is not limited to facial tattoos, as many mistakenly assume, although it certainly can include partial or full facial patterns.

It is not surprising that members of other civilizations have come to admire the beauty of Ta Moko. Some have even gone to the extent of copying tattoo patterns and language phraseology taken from the Maoritanga (Maori culture). This is a very serious mistake, and one that has members of the Maori culture very upset.

Theft of Identity
Most of us are familiar with the horrors of identity theft. Someone lifts your wallet, and the next thing you know they’re parading around with your name, your credit cards and your reputation. But maybe the thief was just imitating you because they liked you so much! Aaaahhhh……not so flattering now, is it?

Copying a Maori’s Ta Moko is nothing less than identity theft. It’s disgraceful and it’s immoral. The only difference is that the Maori really don’t have any recourse against anyone who is thoughtless enough to rape them of their individuality. Ta Moko is as unique to the wearer as your own fingerprints – how would you feel if someone stole those from you?

In the Words of a Maori
“Kat” is a Maori who shares her views on Ta Moko imitation. “Pakeha (whites) are distinctly known for not asking, [and] for assuming that how they see the world is [how] others do so also…[They] bastardize our spirituality and culture and claim it as theirs…Non-Maori wearing it as a form of body art are generally considered wannabees, fakes and frauds that show not only a disrespect for our culture, but lie about their own. (How can you respect your own family when you wear the family signature of strangers?) Even if non-Maori do it in a ‘respectful’ fashion (according to what their non-Maori values dictate is respectful), this is still rude. There is not, in other words, any sense of it being ‘okay’ for non-Maori to wear Maori Ta Moko.”

Kirituhi – A Possible Alternative
If you are dead set on getting a tattoo that is fashioned in the style of Ta Moko, consider instead kirituhi. Kirituhi is a form of pattern art that looks like Ta Moko, but deliberately does not make any reference to Maori symbolism. Kirituhi literally means “skin art” and the patterns are designed to meet the demands of non-Maori wishing to have similar tattoos.

He Taonga Whakamiharo (Treasures to be Admired)
There are many forms of splendor in the world that we admire from a distance. It is not necessary to kill an animal and display it in your home to enjoy its beauty. Flowers are best appreciated when left alone, rather than picked and allowed to wither and die in a vase. And the sanctity of Maori culture, along with their Ta Moko, is honored most when respected, not imitated.

Haere ra!

Welcome to the Tattoo Gallery. This is an ever-growing collection, so I encourage all of you to send me pictures of your tattoos to be added. If you would like to add your own tattoo photos to this gallery, please see the Submission Information Page for instructions.

Tattoo Gallery by Picture Subject

Wow, after reading about all the losers who get stupid crap tattooed on them I really had to write in. I really shouldn’t say that, though, because I have a few tattoos on me that aren’t the most original or meaningful, but I’ve progressed.

OK- I have a total of 5 tattoos. I will recount the stories of them.

When I was younger I never, ever, thought that I would get a tattoo. I thought they were dumb, and only for people who were on a lower level than myself. Then I went to college. After attending the University of Wisconsin Madison for a semester, I wanted a tattoo. Probably to fit in, or feel different. Not really any deep spiritual meaning or needing. I thought for a few months about what I wanted, and came to a decision. I wanted a Phoenix with the word “Invictus” under it. Invictus is Latin for unconquerable. My wife, girlfriend at the time, had gone to a shop that she said was good. The Blue Lotus is very professional and hospital level clean. I went in and the artist who my wife was tattooed by wasn’t there, but I wanted this tattoo today, so I settled for one of the other artists. He told me he couldn’t do the phoenix design I had wanted the size I wanted, so I decided to just go with the lettering. The stencil went on my right shoulder and the process began. About ten minutes later it was over. I had my very first tattoo, small as it may be. I paid the man $50, and was on my merry way. I took immaculate care of it, washing and putting lotion on it.

Now, tattooing had me. I was content with what I had, but I really wanted the phoenix. So about six or seven months later I decided to go in and get it. This time bigger and on my back centered between my shoulder blades. This time I did get the artist my wife had gone to. Rich, is great. Very good attitude and very willing to work with you to get what you want. I only wanted to spend $200 so he sized it accordingly. Later I found out that he made it bigger so that it would look better on my back. This is a true mark of an artist and not a businessman. He was willing to take a hit in his pocket just to make sure that it would look better. This tattoo was considerably more painful than my last ten-minute experience. I took about 2.5 hours. The spine and either side of the spine in the soft tissue are very painful areas. We finished and it looked great. I shook Rich’s hand and knew I would be back.

My next tattoo was a tribal piece. Yes, I like almost every other tattooed human on the planet has a tribal piece. It covered my left shoulder with broad sweeping lines. It was a much more pleasant spot to be tattooed than my back. I really have no good reason for getting this tattoo other than the fact that I liked the way it looked and I wanted to get another tattoo. It cost me $150, and Rich was now my official tattoo artist.

My next tattoo was born of loss and grief. When my grandfather died, I wanted something to remember him and my grandmother who had passed a year before. I told Rich my idea, an angel with wings spread and hands out, standing on a block with my last name and the dates they died. We spent a few hours drawing it up and tweaking it to my satisfaction. It was BIG, about 13 inches tall, six inches across and it was going right below my phoenix. I wasn’t looking forward to another back tattoo, but I was determined to create a lasting memorial to my grandparents. It took about 2 hours and 15 minutes. It was very, very painful. I think your frame of mind has a great deal to do with the amount of pain you feel. I was still upset about my grandparents, and the lower back is even worse than the upper. I have the utmost respect for girls who get tattoos on their lower back. It isn’t a walk in the park. By the end I was almost in tears, but then Rich said he was done. I was g! lad, and was ecstatic when I looked in the mirror. It was amazing. Rich was very pleased with how it came out as well.

So after a rather painful experience I took a bit of a break from getting tattooed, but sooner or latter that tattoo bug bites you again. Now I was getting serious about tattooing, so I wanted a back piece. A back piece is a full back tattoo. I had an idea of what I wanted and how to incorporate the phoenix and the angel into one big piece, so I sat down with Rich. We spent a couple hours one day and the a couple the next and came up with a really cool idea. It already looked like the phoenix was rising out of the angel, so we decided to have a run down, burning city scene down by the angel, and a blast wave of light and color all around the phoenix. A banner over the top with the last two lines of the poem Invictus by William Ernest Henley would frame everything up. “I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul.”

All told I think we spent a total of 25 hours on my back broken up in two or three hour sessions. As far as the pain issue goes, it increases as you go towards the center and down on the back. Also when I became engaged to my wife, half way through the back piece, we got matching tattoos. The phrase “love conquers all” in Latin was tattooed on our left arms right above the shirt line.

This brings us to my current project. I love tattoos, and I hated that no one could see mine. I had a f***ing back piece and no one in my Mechanical Engineering classes could see it. No one on the street knew how important tattooing was to me. So I mad a huge decision, I was going to get a sleeve. (A tattoo piece that covers an entire arm, cuff to shoulder.) I chose my right arm since only lonely Invictus was scrawled on the top of my shoulder. The idea for the tattoo came from the Herbert Draper painting, The Lament for Icarus. Rich made a few changes to it, and we began. The arm is so much less painful than the back. These sessions are much easier than my back piece sessions. So, I’m about 17 hours into my sleeve, and have about 13 more to go.

Here is a summary of what I have learned in my tattooing experiences:

1. Bigger is better. They are not just trying to make more money off of you. The parts of your body are bigger than you think, and putting a one inch by one inch tattoo in the middle of a sea of skin isn’t going to look as good as a nice big image that fills up the space. Also, the artist will be able to add more detail to a large tattoo.

2. It will cost you some money. I’ve spent thousands on my tattoos, but in the long run, they are cheaper than anything else you’ll buy. They last forever!

3. Odds are you’ll want to get another after you’re first. I don’t know why, but everyone I’ve ever talked to says that tattoos are addicting.

4. DON’T GET FLASH. Think of something original and your own. Have a general idea and then have your artist design something for you. They will appreciate it, and then you’ll have something no one in the world has. Make your tattoo have some sort of meaning, not just “I want that one”

5. All the other crap everyone else always says: research your artist, make sure they are sterile, blah blah, after-care, blah blah blah.

So there you have it, a tattoo addicts confession. I hope you have a good experience with tattoos, and I hope you come to love and respect them as much as I do.

-Andrew

Yo, I am a second year university student currently takin’ my B.A. in religion and theology. I am also a certified body piercer and advocate of Christian tattoos. Working in a tattoo shop I have seen first hand the impact sportin’ Christ’s truths through ink on ones body can have in the secular world of the tattoo industry. I have five tattoos myself, all meaningful to me. Each one is a reminder of where I was at spiritually at that point and where God has brought me since then. Besides the fact that I think they are pretty dang rad, they also have been a ministry tool for me. On my neck I have a two nails forming a cross and the reference Galatians 5:1 which states: It is for freedom that Christ has set us free, stand firm then and no longer be burdened by the yoke of slavery. On my ankle I have Psalm 27:1 which says: The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear. The Lord is the stronghold of my life, of whom shall I be afraid. On my wrist it have the word “servant” in Hebrew, which is a reminder of how I desire to live my life; humbly and glorifying God.

So often the church sees ink as graffiti on the temple of God; but why not as stained glass beautifully reflecting God’s glory and truth. Some peeps view their tats as a diary of their lives, others as permanent artwork. So often the church focuses on trivial matters that aren’t essential for Christian faith and salvation. We get caught up in appearances rather than building up the body of Christ. God does not judge by external appearances Galatians 2:6. I firmly believe that God uses peeps in all life situations to minister to different types of people. There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. 1 Cor 12:4-6. I have witnessed first hand how God used me to be his hands and feet in the underground urban culture. Not just in the tattoo industry but in sk8 boarding and the music scene too. I believe he has called me to be a light to the “misfits” and “freaks” of society and has placed a desire in my heart to do so. He has totally opened doors for me and has blessed me and reaffirmed my passion in this. When I enter eternity I don’t think God will care if I had tattoos in life, or if I had a lot of money or if I was popular or whatever. When I enter eternity I want God to say “well done my good and faithful servant.” Cool well i hope my insight was somewhat helpful. Peace and God bless.

your sizlak in Christ

- Chara

For many years, I’d been telling myself that on my 21st birthday, I’d do something outrageous like… get a tattoo (coming from a conservative chinese family, a tattoo is pretty much considered outrageous). Seems like I couldn’t wait until my 21st birthday and now I am a proud owner of a scorpion zodiac on my lower back at the ripe old age of 20.

On the fateful day, I went to a shop called Inkz in Singapore and met the tattoo artist, Jerry. Since it was my first time, I was quite apprehensive and kept on questioning him about the pain. He was very patient with me and told me the pain was “bearable”. He also warned me that this would not be the last tattoo i would be getting.

The thing for me is that I need a friendly tattoo artist. I’ve walked into shops where the tattoo artists are downright snobby and are pretty impatient if you ask questions (especially those pertaining to pain and price). To ready yourself for a tattoo, make sure your tattoo artist is affable and approachable and is ready to explain everything.

To answer the most widely asked question: DID YOUR TATTOO HURT? I’ve read so many testimonials saying that their outline hurt but the colouring didn’t. Strangely enough, i hardly felt a thing when Jerry outlined but when he coloured, I was wincing underneath my brave facade. The pain is likened to that of a needle being inserted lightly into your skin and dragged from side to side inside your skin. Like Jerry said, it IS bearable, but it’s not the most pleasant sensation in the world.

Warning: Tattoos really are addictive.

So much so that i’m going back for my 2nd one this weekend.

-theknees

Some experiences are good, some are terrible! Either way, if you’ve got a tattoo or piercing, you’ve got a story. Learn through others’ mistakes, and take to heart the good advice given by those that have been there.

Monroe Piercing Experience New!

One Body Mod to Another New!

Vertical Hood Piercing New!

First Tattoo & Lesson Learned New!

Declaration of Faith in Ink New!

Hood Piercings: Exotic & Erotic New!

5 Tattoos – 5 Experiences New!

What Are Tattoo Inks?

The short answer to the question is: You can’t be 100% certain! Manufacturers of inks and pigments are not required to reveal the contents. A professional who mixes his or her own inks from dry pigments will be most likely to know the composition of the inks. However, the information is proprietary (trade secrets), so you may or may not get answers to questions.

Most tattoo inks technically aren’t inks. They are composed of pigments that are suspended in a carrier solution. Contrary to popular belief, pigments usually are not vegetable dyes. Today’s pigments primarily are metal salts. However, some pigments are plastics and there are probably some vegetable dyes too. The pigment provides the color of the tattoo. The purpose of the carrier is to disinfect the pigment suspension, keep it evenly mixed, and provide for ease of application.

Tattoos and Toxicity

This article is concerned primarily with the composition of the pigment and carrier molecules. However, there are important health risks associated with tattooing, both from the inherent toxicity of some of the substances involved and unhygienic practices. Some of the risks are described in this article. To learn more about these risks, care of a new tattoo, and get other information, check out some of the sites listed to the right of each page of this article. Also, check out the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for any pigment or carrier. The MSDS won’t be able to identify all chemical reactions or risks associated with chemical interactions within the ink or the skin, but it will give some basic information about each component of the ink. Pigments and tattoo inks are not regulated by the US Food and Drug Administration.

Pigment Chemistry

The oldest pigments came from using ground up minerals and carbon black. Today’s pigments include the original mineral pigments, modern industrial organic pigments, a few vegetable-based pigments, and some plastic-based pigments. Allergic reactions, scarring, phototoxic reactions (i.e., reaction from exposure to light, especially sunlight), and other adverse effects are possible with many pigments. The plastic-based pigments are very intensely colored, but many people have reported reactions to them. There are also pigments that glow in the dark or in response to black (ultraviolet) light. These pigments are notoriously risky – some may be safe, but others are radioactive or otherwise toxic.

Here’s a table listing the colors of common pigments use in tattoo inks. It isn’t exhaustive – pretty much anything that can be used as a pigment has been at some time. Also, many inks mix one or more pigment:

It’s tough being a kid, especially when you and your parents have different ideas on what is appropriate or “cool”. The term “generation gap” didn’t come from nowhere – it’s been an

issue between parents and their kids for all time. But it’s an even tougher issue these days, as more demands are thrust on young people in order to fit in. Most parents realize that children need, not just want, to be accepted by their peers. Without that acceptance, their self-esteem can suffer and they may carry emotional scars for the rest of their life.

But how far should a child or a parent be willing to go for acceptance? Do you buckle under the pressure of every passing fad? Do you drive your parents crazy, demanding one extreme after another? Long skirts, short skirts, permed hair, blue hair, penny loafers, high-tops, tight jeans, baggy jeans – trust me, parents have seen it all. And now tattoos and piercings have worked their way into the teenage genre as the latest “thing”. If you’re a teen interested in body art, you’re no doubt getting resistance at home. So, here are some things to help you out.

Breaking the Generation Gap
The first thing you need to do is understand where your parents are coming from. They were raised during a time when tattoos and piercings were almost exclusively seen on criminals, gang members and bikers. These people didn’t get tattooed or pierced because they appreciated the beauty of the art – they got them to look rebellious and “tough”. Many tattoos were done in prison cells or seedy parlors with no thought to safety or sterility. And you are like a precious gem to them – unscathed and innocent. The last thing they want to do is allow you to be put in harm’s way. I know it’s difficult to understand now, but it really is out of love that they hold you back.

Effective Reasoning
You should know by now that wanting something just because it’s “cool” is not going to fly with your parents. If you want a tattoo or piercing, you’d better be prepared to have a better reason than that for wanting it. Whether you realize it or not, this is a big decision. There are adults that spend years contemplating a tattoo or piercing, because they realize the seriousness of it. Even piercings are more permanent than they seem, because once the jewelry is removed, you’ll always have a small mark or scar. This is not like choosing a new style of hair or clothing – even hair grows back. But a tattoo or piercing is something that, in one way or another, you will be stuck with for life. If you just want one now because it’s cool, that’s not going to sustain you when you’re old.

Choose Your Battles Wisely
You should also be aware of the fact that in some states, minors can’t get tattoos or piercings, even if they have parental consent. Find out what the laws are in your area – it would be a waste of time to try to fight it out with your parents only to have the studio turn you away. If you happen to live in one of these areas, you’re just going to have to accept the fact that you have to wait until you’re of age. Going behind your parents’ backs and letting some shady individual tattoo or pierce you will only hurt any future attempts to win your parents over.

Help Your Parents Understand
Prejudice is based on a lack of proper information. Your parents may be very surprised that tattoo and piercing studios, these days, are cleaner than your average doctor’s office. They may not realize that most artists are trained extensively on safe handling and disposal of equipment, or that everything is meticulously sterilized. And they’re probably never going to know these things without your help. Do research on the procedure you’re wanting done. Present your parents with an essay or information based on solid facts. Show them that you understand their concerns, and attempt to do what it takes to allay their fears. Ask them if they would be willing to take you around to some of the local studios, just to look. And if they do, don’t start begging once you get them in the door, or you will lose all credibility. Remain calm, look around and let your parents see for themselves. Then when you get home, you can discuss it.

The Value of Waiting
If you’ve tried everything you could and your parents are still dead set against you getting tattooed or pierced, let it go. Before long, you’ll be old enough to make your own decisions and can do what you want. Getting a hole or picture poked in you is not a good reason to risk losing your parent’s respect. If you can calmly accept “no” as an answer, you never know – your parents may even gain a new respect for you and eventually change their decision. But even if they don’t, you have your whole life ahead of you. Concentrate on the really important things in life like getting a good education and becoming a responsible adult. Use the time to plan out exactly what you want to do with your life, and show your parents you truly are growing up. Even if they don’t really want you to.

Maybe this would be a good topic for Penn & Teller’s new Showtime series, Bullshit!. I’m guessing you’ve probably heard of the “semi-permanent” tattoo – the one that only lasts 6 months. Or was that 6 years? No one seems to know, because it can’t be done. However, the rumors are real – there are even some tattooers claiming they can do it – some of them say the tattoo will last six months to a year. Some say 3 to 5 years. The 3-5 year ones are actually smarter – I mean, who’s going to even be able to find them in 3-5 years to tell them they were wrong?

Why do people want a semi-permanent tattoo anyway? Why is this idea so popular? Because they don’t like commitment! Over 40% of American marriages end in divorce – and sometimes you have to live with a tattoo longer than your spouse! So, it is easy to see why the idea of a tattoo with a short commitment would be appealing to many. Change your mind? No problem! In a few months it’ll be gone anyway!

NOT!

The fact is, when you insert tattoo ink under the skin, it’s there to stay. It may fade over time, but it won’t just disappear. There is no magical ink that fades completely away after a predetermined length of time.

Some of them will say that they tattoo the ink so lightly that it doesn’t become permanent – that somehow it’s only embedded in a temporary layer of skin that will wash it away. This is also impossible. There are 3 main layers of epidermis – most tattoos go into the second layer. But if you only go into the first layer (which would require surgical if not magical precision) the ink may very well fade – but not evenly and not completely. What you’d be left with is a really crappy half-tattoo with splotches of ink here and there.

Klicks Tattoo quotes an article from The Times where Dr. Arthur Morris, a plastic surgeon, says, “A tattoo only lasts if it goes into the dermis [the layer of cells below the epidermis]. In other words, there is no possible middle ground.” In the same article, Lal Hardy, a secretery for the A.P.T., is quoted as saying, “Professional tattoo studios won’t go near these so-called temporary tattoos. It is hairdressers and market stalls who are doing them. The people doing it may even believe the tattoos are temporary, but those getting them are guinea pigs.”

So, basically, this is nothing but a scam. Stick-on tattoos are temporary (3-7 days) and henna art is temporary (2-4 weeks) and tattoos are permanent. Those are the only real choices you have. If you are not prepared to keep your tattoo for the rest of your life, you’d be best off not to get one at all.

So, you’ve decided to get a new tattoo. That’s great! Maybe this is your first, or your fifth, but usually when we go to get inked, we naturally have questions. Especially if this is your first time, I’m sure you have a lot of anxiety over the whole thing, same as I did.

Yes, I have tattoos! I get that question a lot, so if you’d like to see the ink I currently have, you can take a look at my tattoos. So, needless to say, I was once a newbie, feeling the vibration and the sting of the needle against my skin for the first time.

I try to never forget my first experience, and how nervous I was when I first started thinking about getting a tattoo. I had so many questions, and no one could seem to answer them to my satisfaction. The answers I got only led me to more questions. I was told to make sure my artist used an autoclave…what the heck is that? And I read somewhere that the machine and clipcord should be covered with plastic…the whoosywhatsit? I started realizing I had so very much to learn before I was going to let anyone touch my skin with that noisy little contraption.

The more I learned, the more I loved. I became engrossed in all body art had to offer, and decided it was something I wanted to be on the inside circle of, not just a passerby. I wasn’t satisfied with the idea of just getting a tattoo anymore – I wanted to learn more about the actual process and how to do them myself. As I entered my apprenticeship, I discovered a information I never saw from the outside.

I decided to make it my personal mission to share this information with everyone I come in contact with that has even had a fleeting thought of getting a tattoo. I want to preserve the longevity and respect of an artform to be truly admired, not feared. But in order to do that, people need to be educated on how to keep themselves safe, and how to identify the difference between a good tattooist and a bad one. My beginner’s guide is part of my mission of spreading that information. Please don’t keep this information to yourself. Pssst…pass it on!