Symbolism in Tattoo Art

Although it’s a fact reviled by some, the truth is it’s impossible to escape the fact that if you choose to decorate your body with tattoos, people will inevitably respond with quizzing you about what your chosen artwork “means”. Tattoos are tightly bound to a long history of “meaning something”; down history, they’ve been everything from status signifiers to good luck charms, mystical talismans and physical displays of loyalty. They can illustrate kinship, friendship, love, hatred, change or constance: they can mark a new start or honour a lifelong dedication. They can mourn death or celebrate life. I always advocate that a tattoo can mean whatever you want it to mean – after all, it’s your body, your investment and your choice - but a huge amount of images from every genre have a hallowed back catalogue of signification and symbolism. It is, therefore, probably a good idea to get a basic knowledge about it all; at the very least it will give you some quick ripostes for the next enquirer who starts poking you about your choice of ink! The Basics For many typical, traditional pieces of ink that decorate the portfolios of tattooists worldwide, there is one instant, easy and clear meaning: these include symbols that reference things like religion, the zodiac, music and bands or communities, gangs and groups. Several cult bands have a catalogue of fans who’ve decorated themselves with their calling-card graphics: Social Distortion, AFI, Five Finger Death Punch and the Misfits. That said, plenty of people get easy-read symbolic tattoos with a second, more coded meaning to their personal life and history; born-again Christians might get a pair of praying hands inked to signify their new faith and attitude to life, for example. Then again, an ink culture lover might get the very same image as a simple tribute to the western traditional genre of tattoos of which praying hands are a part, a mark of their respect and love for the style. Animals Any creature will generally have a string of meanings linked to it, evolved from thousands of years of Theriomorphism – our own attribution of emotions and characteristics to creatures - across the world, from all cultures, civilisations and histories. Here is a short-list of a very few examples…! Cats – worshipped by the ancient Egyptians in particular, the shape of cats’ eye was a reference to the moon, nightfall and the unknown. Cats are graceful, mysterious, and beautiful. They can carry connotations of magic and witchcraft, a black cat being the traditional partner to a witch. They can be good or bad omens depending upon the stories and mythologies of different cultures. Cats are also often coded references to erotica, sensuality and sexuality. At the opposite end of the scale, a Japanese waving cat is a symbol of good luck and profit. Elephants – In India, where the Hindu religion includes in its collection of gods the Elephant deity Ganesh, these creatures hold connotations of power, patience, wisdom, success, prosperity and benevolence. They are ironically also symbols of grace! Hmong legends hold that Elephants are the creatures responsible for leading the spirits of the dead to the underworld. A white elephant is the calling card symbol of the person who ‘has it all’ – or a spoilt brat, depending on your stance! They also signify memories, obviously, being known as the creature that never forgets. Deer – A male, horned deer, or stag, has close connotations with male virility and sexuality. Eastern narratives link the animal to piety, freedom, solitude, piety and longevity; Western stories attach to magical qualities to the animal, and native American stories linked it to qualities of forgiveness, unconditional love, healing wounds and mending rifts.