The essays collected in Tattooed Bodies draw on a range of theoretical paradigms and empirical knowledge to investigate tattoos, tattooing, and our complex relations with marks on skin. Engaging with diverse disciplinary perspectives in art history, continental philosophy, media studies, psychoanalysis, critical theory, literary studies, biopolitics, and cultural anthropology, the volume reflects the sheer diversity of meanings attributed to tattoos throughout history and across cultures. Essays explore conceptualizations of tattoos and tattooing in Derrida, Deleuze and Guattari, Lacan, Agamben, and Jean-Luc Nancy, while utilizing theoretical perspectives to interpret tattoos in literary works by Melville, Beckett, Kafka, Genet, and Jeff VanderMeer, among others. Tattooed Bodies prompts readers to explore a few significant questions: Are tattoos unique phenomena or an art medium in need of special theoretical exploration? If so, what conceptual paradigms and theories might best shape our understanding of tattoos and their complex ubiquity in world cultures and histories?

With this second volume of Tattooisme, the frontiers of tattoo art are revisited. The 32 artists participating in this artbook offer a unique journey and a fresh look at the worldwide tattoo art revolution. Tattooisme 2 shows the extensive possibilities of the styles and careers of the artists appearing in this volume--from art nouveau to American old school, from book design to developing clothing brands. We are proud to present them all, from the most well-known, key-figures of the international tattoo scene to the newcomers steeped in culture outside tattooing. That's what Tattooisme is - the door that opens onto a global art inspired by other artistic movements to finally create something new, a unique art, which then influences other creative pools. Over the years the history of art has presented us artistic movements such as Symbolism, Japonism, Cubism, Expressionism, Surrealism and many others. Now we can add Tattooisme, the artistic roots of which feed the tattooists of today and mix with other cultures, whether they are urban, ethnic, modern or ancestral. Tattooisme 2 is the logical result of the creative journey.

A lush sourcebook of nearly two thousand tattoo designs from artists around the world. From the editors of TattooFinder.com, it's a fantastic compendium for people who want to think before they ink! Whether you're tattoo-curious or tattoo-crazy, The Tattoo Sourcebook has everything you need to pick and choose the perfect design for you. Browse the nearly two thousand designs included - everything from Celtic and tribal to butterflies and fairies. It's a visual compendium of high-quality, detailed designs from artists all over the world including contributions and commentary from famed tattooists Friday Jones (who inked Angelina Jolie and Janeane Garofalo), Lyle Tuttle (who tattooed Cher and Jane Fonda), Guy Aitchison, Rand Johnson, Edward Lee, and more. And if you're a tattoo newbie, find out everything you need to know before you get inked. Crosses, dragons, astrological signs, snakes, phoenixes, and more - this is a treasure trove of inspiration for anyone whose tattoo itch is starting to burn!

This classic book will turn heads turn. Images of over a hundred heavily tattooed people from the early decades of the 20th century show proud carnival and circus performers, sailors, entertainers, and who knows, the girl next door? The Introduction is by Marcia Tucker, Curator at the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York, and the author provided material for the 1999 New York Natural History Museum's Body Art exhibition that confirmed tattoos as just one type of body decoration found worldwide. Here is an excellent opportunity for today's tattoo enthusiasts to see how the earlier generations did it.

The Russian Criminal Tattoo Archive presents highlights from FUEL’s singular collection of authentic material on this subject. Previously unpublished in its original form, this work comprises ink on paper drawings by Danzig Baldaev, the photographic albums of Arkady Bronnikov and prisoner portraits by Sergei Vasiliev. The selection is contextualised with insights from Mark Vincent PhD (author and academic specialising in the Soviet Gulag) and Alison Nordström (photography scholar, writer and curator). The meticulous depictions of tattoos by prison guard Danzig Baldaev are reproduced in facsimile, authenticated by his signature and stamp, alongside his handwritten notes on the reverse. The paper has yellowed with age, giving the exquisite drawings a visceral temporality – almost like skin. Sergei Vasiliev’s photographs portray inmates in startling intimacy. He achieves a remarkable level of trust within the closed criminal society, a strict hierarchy, where outsiders are viewed with hostile suspicion. Arkady Bronnikov’s collection of photographs are shown in the albums in which they were collected. Used exclusively to aid police in their investigations, they depict a motley line-up of assorted body parts. This unique book is the only publication of primary material on this subject, highlighting the pioneering methods of these three individuals used to document this unique phenomenon.

Think you know ink? Think again!

Whether your tattoo is to honour a loved one, to remember an event, to state your beliefs or simply to look good, there's always more to getting a tattoo than meets the eye. For example, do you know that having a tat links you to a deep and multicultural tradition stretching back thousands of years? Yes, even that one you got as a drunken dare . . .

From Siberia to Polynesia, tattoos have always been part of human history. Vilified and revered, shunned and celebrated, the history of the tattoo is as colourful and detailed as a master's design. The Little Guide to Tattoos is packed with fascinating history, fun facts, quirky quotes and deep dives onto some of the most iconic symbols.

Whether you're a full-on aficionado or cautiously ink-curious, The Little Guide to Tattoos is the only guide you need to all things tattoo.

The 32 internationally acclaimed tattoo artists in this collection have dedicated their skills to developing the art of tattoo. Representing nine tattoo friendly countries, including France, Japan, Italy, and the U.S., these artists draw from varied art movements and styles in their approach: Baroque, Cubism, Art Nouveau, Realism, Surrealism, Pop Art, Expressionism, and more. Inspiration from seemingly unexpected sources, like hip hop, punk rock, horror films, and biomechanics inform their work: as such, they filter everything through the artful lens that is themselves. They are tattoo; tattoo is them. Having perfected their craft on the human body, these artists are now translating their talents to multiple endeavors, proliferating the art of tattoo and stretching its reach to other mediums: printmaking, lithography, film, theater production, toys, children's book illustration, and hand-made tattoo machines, as well as clothing, skateboard, vinyl record and poster design. More than 350 images, including artist portraits and varied examples of their work, make this book essential for lovers of tattoo and art alike. Tattoo is you, too.

Japanese folklore and modern American tattooing come together in this book of more than 100 sheets of tattoo flash designed to be drawn on the body in a single session. Exploring the rich history of Japanese ink drawings and making readily tattooable images were the priorities of this third book in the Classic Flash series. The artists applied themes and characters from Japanese mythology, such as yokai, to their traditional American aesthetic. Divided into three sections, one each for designs by the artists individually, and one with flash created collaboratively, the book features designs that have gradually more complicated backgrounds, or filler. Tattoo collectors and enthusiasts with an appreciation for manga, who may be intimidated by extremely complex Japanese tattoo designs, will revel in this colorful, whimsical collection of flash.

Here's a chance to ogle the women who paved the way, tattooing themselves and baring their chests when the "good girls" were wearing poodle skirts and heading off to sock hops. Imagine your grandma like this! These women lived counter-culture lives. This book exposes a culture that, even in 1982 when it was first released, was totally shocking. Now it returns as a tribute to the pioneers, the visionaries who saw their bodies as works of art, and were brave enough to share them with the rest of us.

Tattooing has become an increasingly popular phenomenon in the twenty first century, with growing numbers of sports stars and celebrities choosing to go 'under the needle' and tattooing regularly featuring in mainstream media. Based on interviews and participant observation at tattoo studios and tattoo conventions, this book investigates the reasons why so many people choose this form of body modification among all the options available to construct their identity. Drawing on Norbert Elias' figurational sociology, the author considers the importance of the desire to create community with others and to claim an authentic identity among the various reasons for choosing to be tattooed. A study of the connection between body and identity, richly illustrated with empirical material, this book will appeal to sociologists and scholars of cultural studies.

This volume of drawings and photographs completes the "Russian Criminal Tattoo Encyclopaedia" trilogy. Danzig Baldaev's unparallelled ethnographic achievement, documenting more than 3,000 tattoo drawings, was made during a lifetime working as a prison guard. His recording of this esoteric world was reported to the KGB, who unexpectedly supported him, realizing the importance of being able to establish facts about convicts by reading the images on their bodies. The motifs depicted represent the uncensored lives of the criminal classes, ranging from violence and pornography to politics and alcohol. A medieval knight is surrounded by the severed heads of his enemies, a naked woman simultaneously services a man and two dwarfs, a crying President Gorbachev grips a human bone between sabre-like fangs, a group of angels drink vodka with God on a cloud--the meanings of these arresting images are explained to the uninitiated eye. Sergei Vasiliev's graphic photographs show the grim reality of the Russian prison system and some of the alarming characters that inhabit it, while the illustrated criminals of Russia tell the tale of their closed society. This volume, the last in the trilogy, includes an introduction by historian Alexander Sidorov exploring the origins of the Russian criminal tattoo and their various meanings today.

The unearthing of authentic celluloid acetate stencils, a project undertaken by Long Island tattoo shopowner and memorabilia collector Cliff White, continues. In this compilation, thousands more artifacts emerge from "deeper inside the trunk" and expose a sprawling collection from the late '50s and early '60s. These facsimiles, represented in their original color and tone, include timeless designs such as anchors and panthers; famous cartoon characters; wizards, unicorns, and leprechauns; cultural and historical symbols, from Marine Corps logos to Asian designs; and hundreds of other styles too numerous to mention here. Marks of original artists shine through in the leaves of this volume, revealing the etchings of rough craftsmen of a half century ago and evoking stories of weathered sailors and hardscrabble New Yorkers that veteran and young tattooists will appreciate. Fans of scrimshaw, folk art, and engraving will also consider this book a massive source of inspiration and awe.

This expansive book presents 97 international tattoo artists and their best work in words and images. Organized in 19 different "acts," it presents firsthand knowledge of today's tattoo world. Over 560 color images depict a wide range of tattoo motifs, including tribal themes, women, botanicals, animals, portraits, horror, organic, Japanese, religion and mythology, and futurism. In addition, current tattoo-related art, shops, conventions, magazines, and the internet are discussed. The international contributors represent the U.S., Canada, Europe, Japan, and Australia. Some of the greatest names in the tattoo world share their thoughts and art, Jorgensen, Aitchison, Tyrrell, Hemingson, Bond, Reime, Kyle, Hellenbrand, Brogan, Harrison, Wortman, Wheeler, Lofquist, De Pase, Woods, Herman, Henk, Atkinson, Bell, Admiraal, Divari, Rieth, Vedova, Thidemann, Lindfjeld, Kelley, Dollface, Megu, and Ripley.This three-ring circus is a compendium of the best of the tattoo world, sure to delight and inspire, educate and inform.

Enjoy this dynamic collection of tattoo imagery. Over 500 vintage photographs display hundreds of people decorated with thousands of tattoos. This historic tattoo art dates from the 1800s through the 1980s and includes images of love, military, religious, exotic, parlor, and tribal markings. Sailor boys, circus performers, and lovely daring women are among those who celebrate tattoo art by showing off their collections.

Takahiro Horitaka or Taki Kitamura's tattoo career has put him in contact with many unique individuals, not to mention many of the best artists in the biz. Here, in more than 1400 new images, Taki presents the tattoo art of nearly 200 of the world's finest tattoo artists. This visual insider's reference book presents a wide range of styles, from portraits to classic Americana to traditional Japanese to Polynesian and contemporary, edgy interpretations of each. Featured artists include Robert Atkinson, Colin Baker, Kim Saigh, Shawn Brown, Steve Byrne, Tim Hendricks, Freddy Corbin, Lil Roy, Crash, Klem, Mario Desa, Ben Grillo, Grime, Leo Zulueta, Don Ed Hardy, Doug Hardy, Heath Preheim, Eiland Hogan, Thomas Hooper, Horikiku, Horiken, Horimasa, Josh Howard, Timothy Hoyer, Ichibay, Jondix, Venjamin Jimenez, Eric Jones, Henning Jorgensen, Horitomo, Koji, Jason Kundell, Chad Koeplinger, Paulo Manabe, Smith Street, Steve Looney, and many more.

This collection of 200+ portraits of pierced, tattooed, and heavily body-modified people is a celebration by photographer Efrain John Gonzalez. In this colorful volume Gonzalez, as an artist, captures both the spirit of the many individuals and the rich uniqueness of their fantastic tattoos, piercings, brandings, cuttings, subdermal implants, and radical transformations. Many of the images of this great tattoo art and extreme individuals were photographed during the past decade during the New York City Tattoo Convention at the Roseland Ballroom. Gonzalez has a reputation as one of America's most prolific fetish documentarians, and he has traveled America to make images of people stretching their limits... and their skin. Much of his work was taken live at the moment it happened, and in places that aren't accessible for most people. Gonzalez seeks out truth in people and in this volume he shares it with the reader in a collection quite unlike anything else.

This groundbreaking new book covers the basic techniques of electric tattooing in an easy-to-follow, step-by-step way. This is the perfect book to accompany the hands-on training the apprentice tattooer receives, and will be a welcomed reference in every tattoer's library. It covers sanitation concerns, preparation of the site, outlining, shading, and coloration. Bandaging and aftercare is also discussed. Each step is illustrated with a color photograph and a concise explanation.

Enjoy two thrilling tattoo-flash books! These two tomes rank among the best and most extravagant flashbooks that have ever been published. Edition Reuss, well-known and renowned for its collectors items, once again comes up with astounding heavy coffee-table books that set standards. "Tattoo Masters Flash Collection: Part 2" starts with an interview with tattooist and exceptional artist Filip Leu. The whole of the "Leu family clan" has contributed fantastic flash artwork. Another exciting interview with Piotr Wojciechowski, director of the "Polish Tattoo Museum", offers an interesting insight into the world of tattooing in eastern Europe. As a special highlight for the book he provided impressive historical flash-sheets from the pioneer days of tattooing! Names like "Sailor" Jerry Collins, Ray Emms, Milton Zeis, Ted Hamilton and Leonard St. Clair sound like music to the ears of tattoo aficionados music of days gone by. The extensive collection of flash that follows is unique! The illustrations and drawings have been made exclusively for this collection, and have been produced by contemporary tattoo artists who rank among the best in the world. Every artist presents his work in his own style. This explosion of fanciful crossover flash styles will make the any tattooist's heart beat faster. "Tattoo Masters Flash Collection: Part 2" includes works by Mouse Lopez, Espi, Leo Zulueta, Luke Atkinson, Dan Sinnes, Trojan, Felix Leu, Colin Dale, Filip Leu, Chee, Indio Reyes, Jess Yen, Tommy Cyklone Garcia, Naoki, Goethe Silva, Lucio Ramirez, Rick Clark, Krazy K, Olivier Julliand, Kurt Wiscombe, Bale Sineros, Ade Itameda, Chris Ayala, Andy Shou, Jean-Luc Navette, Brent McCown, Horitaka, Diego Garcia, Dimitri Hk, Paulo Manabe, Pepe Nueva York, Taku Oshima, Marcos Adame and many others.

One of the biggest challenges currently facing tattoo artists is to effectively tattoo dark skin. This book introduces tattoo artists to a different approach to tattoo art. Over the course of tattooing thousands of people of color, the author developed techniques and discovered tattoo patterns that best reflect his clients' cultures and communities, many of which are displayed here. Using 380 striking color photos of his work and a recounting of amazing experiences that led an artist involved in tattooing since the 1960s to discover techniques and applications that produce effective, clear tattoos on dark skin. This book is a grand introduction to tattooing dark skin and a fascinating resource.

This big collection of 500 original patterns depicts all of today's most popular tattoo subjects. From best selling artist, author and designer Lora Irish comes the Great Book of Tattoo Designs, Revised Edition, an appealing and high quality collection of over 500 original tattoo patterns. Featuring an extensive variety of popular subjects including floral, fantasy, Celtic, pagan, gothic, sacred, oriental and mythical, this book provides any artist or individual searching for the right tattoo with an unlimited resource of designs. Each pattern can be used individually, in combination with others in the book, or as inspiration for creating new original art. This new edition of a classic resource provides limitless inspiration for personal expression. From dancing dragons and Aztec Indians to fairies and flowers, it makes the perfect companion for anyone with an interest in tattoos.

Tattoos are a highly visible social and cultural sight, from TV series that represent the lives of tattoo artists and their interactions with clients, to world-class sports stars and the social actors we meet on a daily basis who display visible tattoo designs. Whereas in the not-to-distant past tattoos were commonly culturally perceived to represent an outward sign of social non-conformity or even deviance, tattoos now increasingly transcend class, gender, and age boundaries and arguably are now more culturally acceptable than they have ever been. But why is this the case, and why do so many social actors elect to wear tattoos? Tattoo Culture explores these questions from historical, cultural and media perspectives, but also from the heart of the culture itself, from the dynamics of the tattoo studio, the work of the artist and the world of the tattoo convention, to the perspective of the social actors who bear designs to investigate the meanings which lie being the images. It critically examines the ways in which tattoos alter social actors' sense of being and their relationship with time in the semiotic ways with which they communicate, to themselves or to the wider world, key elements of their bodily and personal identity and sense of being.

Innovative artist Spider Webb has brought the traditional art of tattooing into the modern age, elevating the primitive or folk art iconography into modern art with startling interpretations. 400 color and black and white tattoo flash, in two volumes, feature dragons and other mythological beasts, skulls, eagles, beautiful women, hearts, daggers, serpents, and tigers of the natural and supernatural worlds. Many tattoos may be seen as social and political commentary as well. Here is an opportunity to review a prolific artist's work that people from around the globe have been happy to bear as permanent expressions of their inner lives. This book will be treasured by all who enjoy tattoo art.