Tribal Tattoo Designs
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The history of tribal tattoo designs
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@ Tribal Tattoo designs
Samoan tribal tattoos attract attention without a doubt for some reasons like the complexity of the drawing and the painful process of having a tattoo done. What is as well remarkable is the visual impact of these tattoos, especially when they cover half of a person’s body. Samoan tattoo artists used special combs to apply the design. They would dip the comb in ink and then tap the pointed teeth of the comb along the skin, puncturing the surface and inserting the ink. Samoan tribal tattooing began to enjoy a renaissance in the 1960s, perhaps linked with a revitalized national pride in Western Samoa after independence (1962). While all forms of Samoan tattoo are linked with a general pride and commitment to Samoan culture, there are some important differences.
Samoan tribal tattoo, both traditional and contemporary, allows the wearer to artistically explore and announce his or her Samoan heritage, and acts as a strongly voiced and permanent display of cultural pride, especially by those living in the Samoan diaspora. Samoan tattoo artist, more commonly known among his people as a tafuga , Paulo Suluape, has died according to the New Zealand Herald . He was found in his New Zealand home in Thursday morning, and it has been determined the death occured around midnight on Wednesday as a result of fatal wounds to the back of his head. Samoan tattoo design is traditional. Comparison of a detailed drawing of a traditional Samoan pe'a in one of the old books about Samoa?Kramer's The Samoan Islands ?shows little difference from the designs I saw being applied in the late '60s and early '70s.Tribal tattoo art was very important in the Polynesian culture. Because they had no written language, tattoos were used to depict social status, family history and spirituality. Tattooing was done in secret but was revived again in 1984. Now in modern Tahiti the deep traditional meanings are used only by a few, and sacred symbols kept by royal families or shamans. Tattoos, or pe'a , demonstrate the strong ties many Samoans feel for their culture. Samoans have practiced the art of tattooing both men and women for over 2,000 years.Traditionally the method of rewarding the artist (for example, with woven fine mats in traditional Samoa) has been significant. These days the exchange of money is obviously the standard, but thought still needs to be given to the interaction between the person being tattooed and the tattoo artist. Traditionally the combs were carved from a boar's tusk.Samoan women were tattooed as well, but female tribal tattooing was limited to a series of delicate flower-like geometrical patterns on the hands and the lower part of the body. Samoa's unique tattoo is presented at these world conventions in a roped-off area, with security guards who brief spectators on the rules before they are allowed entry. People who do not follow the rules are kicked out of the area. Samoans are constantly being assessed by their chiefs for contributions of food, mats, and tapa for various ceremonies—funerals, weddings, house buildings, tattooings, and church inaugurations.Samoans also have ancient traditions and ceremonies such as the matai ceremony and the art of Samoan tattoo which Leilani has described. But we have also adopted more recent traditions such as English cricket.Women?s tattoos are done on the thighs, legs, or hands, and are usually of a smaller design. While men?s tribal tattoos are typically comprised of larger, solid sections of ink, the women?s patterns are of a much more delicate, intricate design. Women were also tattooed on their thighs and knees, but with delicate, repeated individual motifs. Samoan boys were tattooed at the age of 16-18 years, in a group puberty ceremony that served to reinforce societal authority.
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I like this site, also the article is very interesting
Awesome pics. Nice back ground info on tribal tatoos.
Really cool! I love your pics : )
Thorough research. Thumbs up!
My grandson has these types of tattoos all over him and he gets upset when I tell him I don't understand. Your article gave me some insight on the history tribal tattoos. Now I can tell him Grandma knows something about his "art" :)
Very interesting! These tatoos have real meaning to people, and they are the coolest looking too!
I've got a number of tribal tattoo's great to see more info out there and some nice pics!
Great historical overview of tribal tattos. Overall I like this style of tatoo and asian letters better than most I've seen. I think they are more eyecatching and look meaningful. Nice hub.
I always thought tribal tatoos as something dark and misunderstood. Was quite afraid of the subject, But i have leanr that it is actually a beautiful and skilled art.
Thank you everyone I am glad you ehave enjoyed my post and thankd for the comments
I really enjoyed reading this hub. There are so many interesting facts and topics regarding tattos. I knew little to nothing about the history of tattos (still do kind of) but now I know a little more. I love tattos and the idea of committing to a piece of art on your.
I have this really bad tatoo and I need someone local who can help, its this big ugly tribal sun that this guy did and i need a cover up badly im in Rochester new york. I really like what i saw here
I've read about the history of tattoos and how important these are. And the purpose of having a tattoo nowadays is different, too.
Great hub on the subject of tatoos, I have really enjoyed the information here
Awesome stuff. Reminds me of Benji from the Aussie TV Show 'Underworld'.
nice pics, very interesting article
NICE TATTOOS I LIKE IT I LOVE YOU
Excellent Hub and great pics
Great picture of some awesome tattoos
Another excellent hub on tatoos. You are clearly an expert in this area. I love the vivid pictures you include in your hubs. Thanks for sharing!
This article highlights how different and creative tribal design can be, otherwise, people always think that tribal design is boring. Great article!
This Tribal-Tattoo hub just plainly shows the amazing art behind the plain words.
The pictures are definitely worth a thousands words (like creative tribal tatoo designs) and they do carry a deep meaning to the ones who wear them all their lives.
M.
yeah i have heard how painful the process is for samoan tattoos... i think it was featured once on ngc... some samoan guy, decided to get tattood... similar to that third picture from the top... it was so painful that his internal body temperature rose, it was like he had fever... good stuff!
They did the Samoan tattooing on Miami Ink once, it was apparently so relaxing that Ami fell asleep while his was being done! But then again, all tattoos can be relaxing if you like the sensation. I would love to get a tattoo done in this method, but specialists are few and far between in the UK! I'll have to stick with the usual tribal instead.
Does anyone know the meaning of this particular design? Thanks!
Great Hub you have here :) Please check out my Belfast Maine website would love to network!
I'm proud to say i'm Samoan even though i've been raised knowing and living only one half of me that being my TUHOE side, I still let evryone know i am SAMOAN. In saying that i am wanting to have my legs done but unsure on if it is alrite for someone like me to have it done -being that I have not lived or know that side of me.
I just want to acknowlege my father's side and be proud that my kids know who and what we are made of... Part TUHOE and Part SAMOAN.
Hi there every one , Iv just got the tat on the top pic and I can say just getting the outline was pure hell, sweat wasnt dripping out my armpits it was running off me like a tap. Any how Im realy pleased with it as it was drawn free hand from the pic, can any one tell me the name or meaning of the one on his arm
Great hub with nice pics. Interesting article.
Nice info you got there. Those first two tattoos don't look Traditional, but i guess you're associating them more with Polynesian tattoos rather than Samoan in particular. And I would have liked to see that Samoan tattooing on Miami Ink. It obviously wasn't a Traditional type like in the third picture from the top, but still, seeing the tradnl. patterns being tattooed on someone would have been nice. Great hub.
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Greg from Maine 4 years ago
Interesting that women's tattoos were much more delicate and of a smaller design. It seems these days that women's tattoos are very similar to men's tattoos. This is interesting info