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Indian Tattoos: Only Skin Deep?
Indian Tattoos: Only Skin Deep?
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Edited by Naman P. Ahuja
MARG Magazine
English
Softcover
Rich in symbolism, deeply personal, sometimes making an emphatic statement to the world, and at times, hidden under clothing, an emphatic reminder to oneself—tattoos on our skin are the stuff of poetry. South Asia’s rich history of tattooing has vanished before our eyes, and replaced as it has become by a global trend of contemporary tattoos, Marg attempts, in this volume, to document what vestiges remain of the “traditions” of Indian tattoos and what we can glean of its history. We examine various communities—Pashtuns, Nagas, Todas, Ramnamis, Baigas, amongst several others. At times the conventions of motifs are guided by religion, while for some they mark rites of passage. They can strengthen a couple’s union; they may also bind members of a cult or community together. Yet, to brand someone with a tattoo can also be for less honourable reasons—it may be a mark to bring them shame, to ostracise someone or to transform their status and identity. This volume explores a variety of approaches to the motivations behind tattooing. The motifs that are tattooed on the body are also seen in other media, particularly in textiles or jewellery, and this makes them useful in the study of the symbolism that lies within many different arts or visual cultures of India. Finally, this volume looks at the fate of these traditions in modern times. What led to their decline, and what guides the revivalists and archivists working in the field, as well as the artists who translated the medium of tattooing to new artworks for the wall, and now, in the field of graphic design and typography—inking those motifs not into our skin, but into our minds.
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