Oriental Tattoo Art

The place of tattoos in the cultural milieu of China and Japan today parallels their standing in society in the west in many ways; associations with gangs, outlaws and "degenerate" subcultures are commonly held perceptions. It is however the difference which fascinate and illuminate. Oriental Tattoo Art explores how traditions going back thousands of years have directly informed the development of the prevailing aesthetics in the East. Historically, tribal, religious and sacrifical motivations informed the earliest tattoos in the Orient, but over time these influences have developed into a fascinating discipline. The aesthetic is oft-copied in the west, but seldom with the depth of tradition or understanding contextualizing the work found in these pages. Twenty Contemporary artists from China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Japan talk about their understanding of and practice within the tattoo realm and their finished masterpieces feature. prominently. Tattooed "sleeves" and "suits" are amainstay as are many traditional motifs, including dragons, chrysanthemum flowers, koi, and dramatic landscapes and natural scenes.