Golden Anchor Tattoo, Campbell River
WE ARE ART
THE ART OF TATTOOING KEALY DONALDSON
More than just beautiful designs, tattoos are
buying, selling, and displaying objects. And yet, it seems
reminders of unique stories that can be told on human
almost inevitable that, given the popularity of tattoos,
skin. Tattooing has re-emerged as a mainstream part
more art institutions will recognize the value of em-
of North American pop culture for Generation X and
bracing the once-subversive art form.
beyond, proving that wearable art has a place in society again—and that 5,300 years of history has a recognized
For those in the business of this art medium, talent is
cultural application.
recognized and coveted. There are a number of reputable tattoo studios in the Central + North Island region.
From the Tahitian “tatau” meaning 'to mark or strike', the
At the heart of the Island, in Campbell River, Golden
word tattoo refers to some traditional modes of applica-
Anchor and Queen of Hearts are all highly recommend-
tion where ink is “tapped” into the skin by using sharp
ed. Black Rose and 2 Pricks on 5th in Courtenay are top
sticks or bone. Certain peoples in the Arctic, however,
choices for the Valley and furthest north and south sit
have used a needle to pull carbon-embedded thread un-
Beacon Tattoos in Port Hardy and Wunder-
der the skin to create linear designs. And still others
lust in Parksville. There are more inde-
have traditionally cut designs into the skin and
pendent Tattoo Artists and studios up
then rubbed the incisions with ink or ashes.
and coming.
There were many shared elements in tattooing
To touch on a couple of popular tat-
between Samoa, Aotearoa/Te Waipounamu,
tooing styles, there are fine line and
and Hawai'i, both traditional and contemporary.
form line. They both lend themselves
The status of the master, the general motifs, and
as a base to many art mediums. Fine
the methods of application were common to all
line was used by many famous artists
of the cultures of Polynesia. The roles, techniques and motifs of tatau, moko, and uhi have continued to exist for over 2,000 years. The oldest tattoos discovered to date are estimated to be 5,300 years old.
such as Picasso, da Vinci and Warhol. Form Line
philvdesign.ca
Form line is a term first used by First Nation West Coast Artist Bill Holm in 1965 which conveys First Nations shapes such as oviods,
u and s shapes. The use of form line is one of knowledge In many ways, tattoos are fundamentally at odds with
and technique, mostly passed down through apprentice-
the fine-art world’s business model, which is based on
ships. This specialized art form is here to stay!
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