Tattoo is the newest way to make a style statement. Body art and tattoos generally express the feelings in the best possible way and is a craze with the young generation. Tattooing is the most typical form of modern body decorations, but interestingly, the history of tattooing goes back a long time. However, the purposes were different at that time. People used to indulge in body art because of personal desires, ornamenting the body or as a good luck charm. Some people of olden times even used to believe that tattooing some symbols on their skin would protect them from bad invisible spirits. However, in modern times, the superstitions have faded away, leaving away the style quotient only. However, people apply tattoo of different religious symbols even now, but most of the people decorate themselves with designs chosen by them.
While temporary tattoos may have anything and everything, people generally think deeper before applying any permanent design on their body. The designs may differ from region to region and also on religious beliefs and personal opinions. For instance, the Asians, particularly people from China consider the dragon to be very holy, and that is why you may find people having dragon tattoos in their skin. However, in India you will find more people with religious symbols as tattoos like the holy word “Om”. Several people are also known to tattoo their name permanently on their hand. However, with the intermixing of cultures we now see people from West following body art designs from Far East, while the Asians borrowing designs from the continents of Europe and America.
Tattoos also differ according to the gender. While men prefer animalistic designs that signify strength and power, female tattoos are generally based on fairies, flowers and butterflies. However, there are a few unisex designs that are followed by both the sexes, like stars and sun designs.
Often tattoos speak volumes about the beliefs and faith of people. Especially, religious tattoos like crosses and birds and hands folded on a prayer signify sacred symbols and figures and give an idea about the culture. On the similar note, sun tattoos and other such forms of nature gods, also give a faint idea about the beliefs of the person applying it. However, this is all very uncertain, as people tend to get influenced by the merit of the design and not the idea behind it. Yet there are people who want to express their ideologies with the help of tattoos.
In spite on mentioning the fact that people no more have such prejudices about tattoos being a good luck charm or evader of bad spirits, there is a section of people who still do believe that. However, such use of tattoos to address a complicated issue is not the general sentiment of tattoo users, and can only be seen in a few regional cultures. For example, some tattoos of Ireland have four leaf clovers, or a shamrock or the Irish cross. These are associated with good luck factors. More popular tattoo designs preferred by people are dolphins and butterflies besides the sun tattoos and the Chinese ying-yang system of universal balance.
This article has till now only talked about people who apply tattoo, motivated by religion, faith, superstition, culture or just the merit of the design. However, for the fashion industry, it is a lot more. Body art happens to be the next big deal on the fashion stage with models trying out different innovative designs with rose and animal tattoos being most followed today. They generally mean nothing, and have no such significance either, as it is just to display a sense of style that is supposed to be appreciated by the viewers. Tattoos needs to be strategically placed in the perfect positions. Generally, models prefer arms and lower back to display tattoos which happen to be a great form of self-expression.
Not having one doesn’t necessarily mean you are out of fashion, but if you have one and can carry it off well, then a lot about you is being said through the body art.