Art: In(k) the Flesh

People watching is one of my favorite things to do. Granted I don’t sit still much if I’m not frantically birthing an idea on the keyboard. But when those moments happen, those pristine, carefree minutes when I can let my mind wander and turn off the part of my brain that screams there’s laundry to be folded (I’m ahead of the game if I'm at the folding stage) or bills to be paid, or how impossible it is to cobble together a meal when I haven’t done an Instacart order in weeks, I embrace them full throttle. With vigor. The art of doing nothing but, well, nothing.

Existing. Breathing in and out. Sitting on a rusty wobbly bench at some random outdoor mall because I hate to shop. Sure, I’ll go on the excursion, heck, I’m happy to carpool everybody there. But what I’m shopping for isn’t found in a store.

I’m always on the hunt, sniffing the trail, watching and waiting for what every creative person craves, what every creative person needs - inspiration.

A thunderbolt can strike anywhere.

As a writer, there’s no better research into character development than to actually observe real world people doing ordinary things. Think I’m kidding?

Humans - emotional and impressionable creatures, each with a distinct qualified vice, all choose how to communicate with their bodies. Some dress with the latest fashion trends, others pick hairstyles that convey who they are as an individual. Some take it a step further and make a permanent commitment for their personal statement.

Ink. In the flesh.

Tattoos are nothing new. El Algarrobal Museum in Peru displays a Chiribaya mummy with a tattoo on the fingers of the right hand. The Chiribaya were farmers who lived from A.D. 900 to 1350.

Further back in time, tomb scenes or hieroglyphics document Egyptian female mummies exhibited tattoos on their actual bodies from around 2000 B.C. Since the earliest documentation of ink in the flesh roots in Egypt, modern (male) excavators deemed the Egyptian women mummies to have a rather dubious status, described in some cases as ‘dancing girls.’

Is that how tattoos started as taboo? A misguided opinion, a notion without any merit?

King Tut’s step-mother, Nefertiti (her name means the beautiful woman has come) is without a doubt the most famous Egyptian Queen. It’s legend that her grooming habits were infamous as Nefertiti bathed with luxurious chamomile, a commodity only available to royalty. Her constant pruning is remembered by naming a flower in her name that garners exceptional care itself, the Nefertiti Rose.

If Nefertiti’s splurges in pruning are above the standard for the time, then the ‘dancing girls’ as described by the excavators were not low ranking citizens. They were in fact, the exact opposite. Any person in ancient Egypt that had the means to alter their bodies had to come from a prominent class, so to speak.

Today, in modern times people have various reasons to get inked. For some it serves as a personal talisman. An amulet or sorts. Others choose to commemorate an event, a special place, honor a loved one, or express a religious belief. Some choose to display wicked art simply because they can. Whether it’s plain or elaborate, the art is a statement in self-expression.

What I personally love about tattoos is that the art itself is a two-fold process in the origination and implementation. The tattoo artist or the express-ee (coin termed by author) is the visionary that implements the design. The tattoo artist brings the vision to life. The express-or is the person that wears the tattoo.

Tattoos are art in the flesh. Beared by one person, yet created by another person altogether. Extraordinary concept, isn’t it? Like witnessing van Gogh himself carrying a handful of Sunflowers on the way to his studio – his muse to inspire and create another masterpiece.

Tattooing is a skill that takes time and patience. Like any artist, mastery can take a lifetime. Many tattoo artists have a natural talent and began their journey in art in an entirely different medium.

Here are a few examples of tattoo art, photographs courtesy of United Ink Tattoos & Body Piercings. You can follow their Facebook profile by clicking here.

Just as the Renaissance and Impressionist art periods evolved, tattoo art mimics cultural realism in today’s society. Like all great artworks, ink art is subjective. While the reasoning of why people get tattoos has been misunderstood for centuries, this medium has been underrepresented in the realm of artistry, and by most standards, still is.

Art in the flesh is a personal choice, the reasoning of choosing to get inked differs from one person to another. J.R.R Tolkien’s, ‘not all those who wonder are lost’ quote is often seen on bumper stickers because that one sentence is inspiring. Often the quote is misunderstood, as the entirety is not contexed fully. The full quote reads:

All that is gold does not glitter;

Not all who wander are lost.

The old that is strong does not wither.

Deep roots are not reached by the frost.

As with tattoos, there is a deeper meaning highlighting the muse within and when you get the whole story, the bigger picture you have a clue to interpret.

But then again, some get lost intentionally searching to find themselves. In that journey you might find yourself off the beaten path, on the old Seven Mile Bridge traveling to the Florida Keyes. With no soil and exposed to the sun, salt water and winds the Keyes are known for grows an evergreen tree. He has a name, the locals call him Fred. He defies any logic as to how he survives at all. You might be inspired by the tree’s grit to exist through hurricanes. You might even choose to get a tattoo of him on your arm, like this guy.

If you're a sucker for a good love story, here's a link to a short piece of fiction. Spoiler alert - there's a tattoo.