Tahiti is one of the islands in French Polynesia which is located south of the Pacific Ocean. Tahitian tattoos are so-called because of the origin of the designs used by many tattoo artists, the concepts of which are primarily from the said island. The traditional method of tattooing in Tahiti is still done today, but only a few artists are proficient in this field. Since the tattoo designs created in Tahiti are very much appealing, modern-day artists choose to use them too. If you want to get this tattoo, here are the few things you need to know:
Ancient methods
Tahitian tattoos are originally done by using special tools that are manually operated, as opposed to the electric-powered tools methods we have today. The set of tools include a wooden hammer and a wooden stick with teeth-like protrusions on its end, the teeth being made from animal bones or from shells. These serve as the "needles" of the stick, and would be used to puncture the skin while applying the pigment. In ancient times, the ink used by the Tahitians is made from plant sap and other natural sources of pigments. Today, there are only a few people who practice tattooing this way, and it requires a thorough understanding of the ancient process. Usually, modern-day Tahitians are the ones who can still conduct this kind of tattooing.
Today's tattoos
As the art of tattooing evolved through the years, more sophisticated tools are available for use in this form of art. Even so, Tahitian tattoos still have an impact on people because of the intricacy of the designs that originate from Tahiti. These tattoos can be seen on many famous people like American actor Dwayne Johnson, who has this kind of tattoo on his left arm. Aside from it having a marvelous history, the Tahitian tattoo also has a deep meaning associated with it. There have been documentations from early historians that have described these tattoos to be a sign of coming of age for people who live in Tahiti. Both men and women wear tattoos because it symbolizes a specific part of their being. The designs also vary per person, as a chief of the tribe would have more detailed tattoos than that of a gatherer. Nowadays, the use of the designs from the Tahitian culture has captured the attention of many people because of the wonderful patterns and images that can be used to create a tattoo.
A Celebration of Culture
The tattoos that originated from Tahiti clearly prove to be very rich in history and culture. For most people who acquire this kind of tattoos, their main objective is to represent a certain value they hold that is in line with the values of the Tahitians. As people in Tahiti see the tattoos to be representations of their strength and endurance for pain, the people of today also share the same ideal. Though the present-day generation is so much different from what was described of the Tahiti people in history books, the cultural impact and relevance of tattoos cannot be ignored.
Source : Ezinearticles
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