Body Art
Most people invest time and effort in decorating their homes, gardens and even cars in an effort to express their own character. Some choose to express themselves through clothing, shoes or hairstyle. Achieving the final vision could take months, even years of commitment to complete. The art of expression is what truly makes us social creatures and is the foundation of culture. We express ourselves to give others a little picture of who we are, but how committed are we to what we express? How permanent would you make that expression? As expressed through interior decor, education and literature would you use your body as a medium? Everyone already does so through body language. You’d be surprised with how much your body language tells others about who you are and interestingly by changing your body language through volition you also modify your character. But what level of commitment is required to permanently paint your body?
The lady in the picture is a 25-year-old Japanese woman from Chiba who is quoted as saying “When you get a tattoo, something you can treasure the rest of your life is added to your body. There’s a feeling of joy to be had from that.” The tattoo is an image of an Oni, a demon in Japanese folklore. In recent times Oni have lost their wicked portrayal and have taken on a more protective form in certain cases as to ward off evil spirits or bring good luck. If this is the case, this lady must be very lucky. However, I am not certain what is written around the Oni which could give more detail on what she is trying to express. Whatever it is, it had to take a great deal of commitment on her part and personally from this I can see why tattooing is a form of art.
Called Irezumi (入れ墨 or 入墨), tattooing has a long history in Japan- tattooing for spiritual and decorative purposes is thought to extend back to approximately 10000 BC there. As observed by Chinese visitors around 300 BC – 300 AD, certain designs were thought to have spiritual significance as well as functioning as a status symbol. Traditional irezumi is still done by specialist tattooists, but it is painful, time-consuming and expensive which can take 1-5 years of once-per-week visits to complete.
I for one am considering getting an irezumi tattoo at some point when I stay in Japan. Not at the scale of the pictures, but definitely something with the same amount of uniqueness, consideration and personal importance. Many do so on a whim, but when considered as an art form what picture or message would you permanently communicate to others?
First image discovered through Feridun’s blog and courtesy of Boost_Samurai a.k.a. Jak-szie-masz.
Second image discovered through Germanium’s blog (Japanese).
See also:
Oni
Japanese folklore
Irezumi
History of tattooing
Japanese Tattoo Art
July 23rd, 2007 at 1:33 pm
When you get your Irezumi one day it must have all kinds of hidden meanings like Jack’s tattoo in LOST: http://www.ece.neu.edu/~xzhu/lost_tatoo.html
July 25th, 2007 at 6:01 pm
Actually, I was considering getting one of those originally. In Japanese they are called Yojijukugo (四字熟語) or four-character (kanji) compounds that have a particular (idiomatic) meaning which cannot be inferred from the meanings of the words that make them up. Here is a site that has approximately 3 400 different yojijukugo, but the one I wanted to get is 和合研鑽 (WAGOU KENSAN) which is not listed there. The reason I am still undecided is because it is similar to a Japanese audience as having “Fit as a fiddle” tattooed is to an English audience. In addition to a well designed irezumi however, I might consider an relevant, deep and thoughtful yojijukugo.
July 31st, 2007 at 12:04 pm
Amazing art work. Especially the one with color. I can just imagine that took hours upon hours if not days.
August 6th, 2007 at 10:28 am
Body art, Committing to that moment Solidifies a character that is permanent in one’s life, are people changing all the time? Does this mean that if change occurs, the way the meaning of the artwork may change too?… I too am undecided on what body art will fit my life…
August 9th, 2007 at 9:36 pm
Afflict, yes it takes a very long time to complete, depending on the size of the artwork of course.
Kev W, I am quite sure one’s own interpretation of artwork changes as our perception of life does. It is quite possible that our perception becomes so completely shifted that one cannot relate to the artwork at all. For example, religious tattoos to a new atheist. But even so, it still marks a moment in history where you had that view. Good luck with the search!
August 10th, 2007 at 10:24 am
The only time I’ve ever considered a tattoo was a few years ago. I was on a Reiki course and thought of getting one of the symbols on my back. At that stage I felt connected to the symbol, drawn to the mystique, the spiritual implication and the “coolness” of how I believed it would make me feel. Three years later I don’t really believe that any longer. Reiki is not cool or mysterious or remotely spiritual for me, but I came really close to branding my body with something I think (in retrospect) I would regret.
But one can’t float endlessly in the maya, so perhaps you decide to take the risk and wear your brand on your back. I think it’s brave!
As for me, I’ll have to stick to interchangeable brands … non permanant ones.
November 5th, 2007 at 8:23 pm
I am fully convinced that you have tried posting again after this post, but when you get to the front page of your blog Shodan you sit there and forget all about it staring at the half nude women
December 21st, 2007 at 1:42 pm
I love the first one, and have seen it before. I am currently looking for the design in a bigger format. I have seen it in a book my friend brought back from japan but i can’t remeber what ist was called. anyway if you have more info about it please send me a e-mail.
December 29th, 2007 at 8:21 am
i was thinking of getting a full back piece but i was hesitant because of pricing. does anyone know what type of price range ink of that magnitude would fetch?
thanks?
December 29th, 2007 at 8:23 am
oops, my email would be casisjustin@yahoo.com if you have an answer! THANKS
March 19th, 2008 at 4:40 am
I have recently decided to get a tatoo and I was stuck with the indecision of wether or not to get a Phoenix, as I have just got out of a relationship and well basically sybolizes my life in a nut shell…rising from the ashes and what not.
The other was a Koi, symbolizin luck and good fortune, love friendship….i guess its different for everyone, for me i guess it be strength as well as all the above…So maybe i should just settle for both?!? Lol…my mother will flip.
June 5th, 2008 at 8:10 am
I LOVE THE ART. IT IS SO AMAZING. ONE DAY I WILL HAVE A PICK ON HERE!!!
February 24th, 2009 at 3:03 pm
not bad
March 2nd, 2010 at 7:45 pm
As far as homes, gardens decoration is concerned, it totally different from our body decoration. People are interested to do so, are not only harming their skin but also playing with nature.