Enter a visual smorgasbord of tattoo imagery. Hundreds of photographs, thousands of tattoos. This incredible assembly of historic tattoo images dates back to the invention of the camera and follows the art form's progression through the 1970s. Here is a celebration of tattoo and people who enjoy the art form. The images document tattoo designs varying from testaments of love and military badges, religious imagery, and tribal markings. Shown are circus performers who exhibit neck-to-toe art; Navy boys who proudly sport new sets of sails, and men and women who show off lifetime collections. Here, too, are the daring young women who defied convention by tattooing and piercing their bodies during the early 1960s and '70s.

Occasionally a book is published that reveals a subculture you never dreamt existed. More rarely, that book goes on to become a phenomenon of its own. The 2004 publication of the "Russian Criminal Tattoo Encyclopaedia" was such a phenomenon, spawning two further volumes and alerting a fascinated readership worldwide to the extraordinary and hermetic world of Russian criminal tattoos (David Cronenberg, for example, made regular use of the "Encyclopaedia" during the making of his 2007 movie "Eastern Promises"). Now, Fuel has reprinted volume one of this bestselling series, whose first edition already fetches considerable sums online. The photographs, drawings and texts published in this book are part of a collection of more than 3,000 tattoos accumulated over a lifetime by a prison attendant named Danzig Baldaev. Tattoos were his gateway into a secret world in which he acted as ethnographer, recording the rituals of a closed society. The icons and tribal languages he documented are artful, distasteful, sexually explicit and sometimes just strange, reflecting as they do the lives and traditions of Russian convicts. Skulls, swastikas, harems of naked women, a smiling Al Capone, medieval knights in armor, daggers sheathed in blood, benign images of Christ, sweet-faced mothers and their babies, armies of tanks and a horned Lenin: these are the signs by which the people of this hidden world mark and identify themselves. With a foreword by Danzig Baldaev, and an introduction by Alexei Plutser-Sarno, exploring the symbolism of the Russian criminal tattoo.

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.

Color your world with the fabulous art of henna tattoo. Mehndi, also known as henna tattoo, is a traditional Middle Eastern art used to adorn the body for weddings and other special celebrations. Today, you can join in the beauty and fun of mendhi with this simple book of patterns and instructions for the body and even home decor objects! Inside, you will find a variety of original henna tatttoo patterns that can be applied to the hands, feet, belly and back. You'll also be interested in creating your own designs by following the simple instructions for the 5 basic henna shapes and learn how to combine them in a variety of ways to create exotic mendhi designs of your own. But why stop there? Mendhi is a versitile art that can also be applied to wood, leather and other surfaces. Follow-along with the author as she shows how she creates one-of-a-kind designs for a wooden box, leather pouch, magnet, tea caddy and more. Filled with stunning photographs of beautiful henna tattoo, this book is sure to inspire.

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?

Tattoos are capable of reflecting both their owner s style and interests as well as advertising the talent of the artist involved. With tremendous skill and vision they are able to transform skin into canvas, working with their clients to produce artwork that is unique and meaningful. Combining motifs from contemporary art and design trends with traditional methods, the artists of today push the boundaries of the expected. Ink The Art of Tattoo includes interviews with some of the global masters in the field as well as a gallery of flash art and exquisite photography throughout.

Tattoos, perhaps one of the oldest forms of communication or body art, have had and still have different meanings. From healing powers to the identification of criminals, through myths and different beliefs or simply as a form of identification and affirmation of group belonging, tattoos are one of the most characteristic means of expression associated with sailors, soldiers, organized crime, gangs or urban tribes, as well as being a form of body adornment and expression of a lifestyle, philosophy or many people's beliefs. By way of a clear, insightful text, this publication unveils the meaning of the tattoos that have lived on through the passage of time and that, even today, explain a lot about the person who wears them. After all, a tattoo is much more than a drawing on the skin; it's a declaration of intent. From drawings that date back to the dawn of civilization to contemporary designs, each tattoo has a hidden story that this book is eager to reveal.

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.

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.

Ten striking motifs to delight tattoo enthusiasts of all ages: an Egyptian queen, the Sphinx, a stylized beetle, lotus, birds, and more.

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.

Princes and prisoners, sailors and criminals, showgirls and soldiers - all have submitted to the tattooist's art. Vintage Tattoos features over 500 retro designs of every style and subject matter, including nautical, patriotic, hearts and banners, circus, girls, animals, roses, daggers and symbols. Legendary rock journalist Carol Clerk's curation of the most iconic traditional ink designs also includes profiles of history's illustrious tattoo artists, as well as interviews with contemporary practitioners.

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.

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.

Thirty hand-picked tattoo shops and the work of over one hundred artists are included in this book showcasing the blossoming body art communities in New Mexico and Arizona. Displayed are over 600 color photos of tattoo artistry. Trendsetting artists create a wide range of tattoo art in motifs as diverse as the men and women who receive and appreciate them. The artwork ranges from the small to the large. Classic black and white artistry and modern full color work are featured. Themes captured include natural scenes, animals and birds, flowers, nautical scenes and symbols, Oriental motifs from dragons to geishas, portraits of loved ones, religious art, Day of the Dead motifs, occult symbology, and much more. The artists and their shops are also featured. For anyone with an appreciation of tattoo artistry, this book is for you.

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.