PERMANENT INK.
Written by Cally Taylor
Throughout history, societies around the globe have created countless methods to embody self expression.
Through the up and downward strokes of a paintbrush, or floating across the dance floor – the most common form of communication is through the arts.
I believe that art is portrayed through the world’s cultural network and other avenues of artistic exploration and expression.
Art is subjective – it can be anything you want it to be.
From the precision and focus needed by a diver with a speargun, to the movement of a surfer’s lower body on a tight backhand carve – leaving elegant white streaks along our favourite blue canvas.
Art gives everyone the freedom to express themselves and many people choose to do this in a more permanent way than others…In conversation with a gentleman, I said I was a surfer. His response was, “Well, where are your tattoos?”
My question is, what makes one able to commit to such a loud statement of self expression? Such permanent ink? Furthermore, what link do tattoos have to surfing ?
When I close my eyes and think about the origin of tattoos, I picture indigenous people of Polynesian descent. To my surprise, after researching the history of tattoos, my findings were quite the opposite of what I had expected.
The oldest tattoo ever recorded was found on “Otzi the Iceman”, a frozen mummy that was discovered in the Ötzal Alps on the border between Austria and Italy. The next oldest tattoos belonged to the Egyptians.
A couple of Local surfers in East London were willing to answer a few questions, and from those interviews I was able to gather different opinions on the subject.
All the candidates had one thing in common ; the relationship with their tattoos and the sea.
In Nathans’s case, his tattoos don’t represent much about the ocean, but they are part of him. His life moves with the sea and because of this, so do they.
A tattoo is a personal thing. For those who have, they might not be sentimental per say, but they do hold a meaning. In some circumstances, the true meaning of a tattoo remains undecipherable to everyone but the person who has chosen it. Tyler loves to keep it fun, allowing those who are interested, to guess the meaning of his tatts. A little bit of day – to – day Pictionary…without the charades I hope.
Tattoos could also be thought of as road maps. They can represent a starting point, a destination, or the journey one has made to reach the finish line. Tagan’s tattoos are a permanent reminder to never give up on his dreams and to keep striving for his life goals.
To me, a tattoo is a moral compass, art that accompanies us surfers into the ocean. The ocean is where waveriders are able to find solace from the fast – paced world. It is a place where we can go to reflect on life, as our inky compass of art guides us on our path. Although the ocean washes all things clean, the art remains permanently ingrained in our skin.