Body art and tattoos have been around for a long time, its popularity and craze not waning. In olden times, tattoos were used for identification where children were marked to prevent them from being lost. In short, body art was the UID of yesteryear.
From that era to today, body art has assumed greater proportions and is an indelible part of society.
The IXth Czech Republic Body Painting in Prague on March 31 witnessed a host of beautiful body sketch works. An annual feature, this championship is treated as an art form as whether it's painting on canvas or on the human body, it is an expression of art itself.
Despite its current popularity, body art and tattoos is fretted upon with conflicting impressions. Many people claim that getting a tattoo is rather childish. Though tattoo lovers claim that these imprints on their bodies hold significance to them, many others jump onto the tattoo bandwagon because "tattoos are cool". Some opinions are downright offensive and suggest that getting a tattoo is rather flashy.
Critics of the art say that people who get tattoos done may have an exhibitionist's tendency since any reason to permanently mark one's body is superficial and nothing can justify the pain and risk that one takes to permanently etch on one's body.
However, some opinions are less unkind, advocating that it is a matter of personal choice. Don't people dress the way they like to? Don't people have a particular hairstyle or don't people behave the way they wish to? Similarly, tattoos are a wonderful expression of art. Some etch a picture of a person they love, or religious mantras or of nature. It is their way of expressing positive feelings.
Several stereotypes are doing the rounds about body art.
Myth: Young and impressionable people give in to the impulse of getting a tattoo done. Reality: Many older and middle-aged are getting the art done too.
Myth: Young and impressionable people give in to the impulse of getting a tattoo done. Reality: Many older and middle-aged are getting the art done too.
Myth: A tattoo is flashy are people in showbiz do so. Reality: Many actors do not do tattoos either. It clearly is a matter of individual choice.
Myth: Tattoo is permanent ad that can never be removed. Reality: Many laser machines cheap tattoo machines which remove any form of scar can also remove a tattoo.
There are also a lot of stories surrounding extent of pain in getting a tattoo done. Outlining, shading and colouring are long processes that are often quite painful and depending on intricacy of the design, the tattoo-making process can take well over 2-3 hours. Scratching the skin and filling colour on the design can indeed be a sore process. Hygiene is a genuine concern since there are needles involve but a safe place will offer sterilised needles.
Many tattoo stores advertise on the basis of licences or certifications and an experienced artist with many scratches to his credit.
Body art is certainly a growing creative business today. Whether it is the application of henna or mehendi during weddings or face-painting for Kathakali performances, body art has been in India for ages now. Tattoo designs is only a small and recent adaptation to the manner in which people choose to adorn their bodies.
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