Body Piercing Pictures

For centuries, long before their landlubber cousins sported shoulder skulls and bicep beauties, seafaring men have offered up their skin to the tattoo artist's needle. The results are as plain as the anchor on Popeye's forearm.

"There's a thin wall between life and death at sea," says Craig Bruns, curator of "Skin & Bones — Tattoos in the Life of the American Sailor," a touring exhibition now on display at Mystic Seaport. "You're going to want talismans for good luck, and you're going to want them on your very body, almost like a second skin."

Even fictitious sailors had them.

In Herman Melville's novel "Moby-Dick," for example, the imposing harpooner Queequeg was covered in tattoos. "This tattooing had been the work of a departed prophet and seer of his island, who, by these hieroglyphic marks, had written out on his body a complete theory of the heavens and the Earth, and a mystical treatise on the art of attaining truth," Melville wrote. "So that Queequeg in his own proper person was a riddle to unfold; a wondrous work in one volume; but whose mysteries not even himself could read."

"Skin & Bones" unravels some of those mysteries.

Using everything from antique needles to old postcards, it traces the connection between American sailors and tattoos from Colonial times right up to current-day U.S. Coast Guard sailors. Plus, visitors can sit at a "Tattoo-A-Tron" and get their own faux tattoo.

The exhibit debuted in 2009 at Philadelphia's Independence Seaport Museum. Mystic is its first port of call since then, and it will remain here through Sept. 5.

"Sailors were working folks," Bruns explains. "They were the lowest rung on the social ladder, just above slaves. They were feared. They looked weird. They had their own jargon, and they were rowdy. And they had these tattoos."

There were practical reasons for all the body art, of course.

First, tattoos were a form of identification. Sailors had little in the way of personal possessions, and they depended on tattoos to indicate their citizenship, religious affiliation and date of birth.

Tattoos also showed where a sailor had traveled, whether he crossed the equator, how many miles he sailed, significant military battles he was in, names of ships on which he served and names of shipmates who died.

"By 1770, there was already a very complex tattoo culture," Bruns says. "It's a mark of masculinity. Of belonging. Of patriotism."

"Skin & Bones" has early tattoo equipment on display, from the sail-making needles of the 1700s to the advent of Samuel O'Reilly's electric Tattoo Machine in 1891. There also are examples of tattoo "flash" — the books of tattoo designs that served as portfolios for shipboard tattoo artists.

One of those flash books, owned by a sailor named C.H. Fellowes in about 1900, is on loan from Mystic Seaport. It's one of the oldest flash books still in existence.

Beyond such artifacts, the exhibit is filled with the tattoos themselves.

You have dragons, American flags, hula girls, hearts, roses, ships, figureheads, coils of rope, mermaids, whales, eagles, shields, fish and stars. Some swabbies preferred the "twin screw" tattoo: a pair of propellers that sailors thought would keep them from drowning and propel them back to shore.

On one wall of the exhibit is the classic, 1944 Saturday Evening Post cover, "The Tattoo Artist," painted by Norman Rockwell. It shows a brawny sailor getting the name "Betty" tattooed to his arm, underneath the crossed out names "Sadie," "Rosietta," "Ming Fu," "Mimi," "Olga" and "Sing Lee."

There are nuggets of nautical tattoo trivia, too.

For instance, Macy's shoppers may be interested to know that the department store's red star logo is identical to the red star tattoo on the arm of founder Rowland Macy, who worked on a whaling ship when he was a teenager.

Here's another tidbit. Sailors believed they could survive a shipwreck if they tattooed a pig on their left foot and a rooster on their right foot. This may be because shipboard animals traveled in crates that floated if they were tossed overboard.

"Some tattoos were very allegorical, and others were pretty direct," Bruns says. "It was all part of being a sailor and being part of that world."

Today's sailors are represented in a series of video interviews with Coast Guard officers talking about their tattoos.

"There is something unique about my Neptune tattoo on my left calf," says Emilio Mercado, a petty officer recorded at the Sector Delaware Bay Station in Philadelphia. "The tattoo doesn't show the eyes of Neptune, since I'm acting as the eyes of Neptune right now for the United States Coast Guard and the nation. ... Once I retire, the eyes will be drawn in the tattoo as a completion of my duty and to ensure safety for my own life."

American sailors have decorated their bodies with tattoos for more than 200 years. Discover why in this new traveling exhibit from Philadelphia's Independence Seaport Museum. Skin & Bones presents over two centuries of ancient and modern tattooing tools, flash (tattoo design samples), and tattoo-related art, historic photographs, and artifacts to tell the story of how tattoos entered the sailor's life, what they meant, and why they got them.

A tattoo could be a memento of a voyage, a memorial to a lost shipmate, or a talisman to ward off evil spirits. They also had a practical side: tattoos were used to prove identification in event of catastrophe or imprisonment. Regardless of the purpose, the tattoo served to prove the wearer's membership in a maritime brotherhood.

The exhibit traces the progression of purpose and design to the present. Some of the connections are surprising: The famous red star logo of Macy's department store is believed to have been inspired by a tattoo founder R.H. Macy got while on a whaling voyage in the South Pacific on the Emily Morgan (a predecessor of the Museum's 1841 whaleship Charles W. Morgan).

Skin & Bones brings together the most comprehensive presentation of design flash on this subject. From eagles and flags, to ships and animals, to lost shipmates and loved ones, visitors can survey the evolution of tattoo design through the decades. One of the oldest surviving books of American flash, bearing the name C.H. Fellowes, belongs to Mystic Seaport and is on display. Visitors can also see the range of tattoo-making tools, from rather crude sail-making needles to Samuel O'Reilly's revolutionary electric tattoo machine of 1891.

Visitors will be invited to get their own tattoo in an interactive "tattoo booth" where a recorded "tattoo artist" talks to them about their chosen design as he inks a pretend tattoo on their forearm using a video projection effect. They can also try their hand at sketching a tattoo and share the results.

By the end of the exhibit, you will know if you have a tattoo, thank a sailor!

Sources
Jim Shelton

Girish Giridhara’s arms are tattooed with Hindu gods, goddesses and sacred mantras. The spiritual designs are intricate but also hardly surprising for a man who once trained to be a priest.

Shaven-headed, with gold earrings and a red tilak on his forehead, the 36-year-old tattoo artist looks relaxed in a sleeveless t-shirt, knee-length shorts and flip-flops at the Indian Ink tattoo convention.

The exhibition in Mumbai this weekend is billed as India’s first, with organisers hoping to tap into a growing interest in permanent body art among young Indians.

But Girish, an exhibitor at the event, knows that body art in India is not a new trend set by cricketers or movie stars.

Tattooing has been an integral part of Indian tribal culture for centuries and no Hindu wedding is complete without the mehndi ceremony, where the bride’s hands and feet are elaborately decorated in non-permanent henna.

“It (tattooing) is documented in the Vedas (scriptures) from the time of (the Hindu epic) “It’s been around for a long time, then it disappeared for some reason. Now it’s come back,” Girish, who runs the Bramha Tattoo Studio in Bangalore. told AFP.

Reality television shows like “LA Ink” – about tattoo artists and their clients in Los Angeles – have helped changed the modern mindset towards tattoos in India, he said.

“About five years back people didn’t want to go for tattoos. They used think it was only for junkies. People are more open-minded now. It’s now being seen in a very good light.”

That change has also influenced designs, with previously popular Western and Japanese art making way for styles reflecting India’s rich and varied artistic, religious and cultural heritage and as a form of identity and self-expression.

Girish’s route into tattooing was unconventional. He comes from a family of Hindu priests and studied in temples between the age of eight and 15 to become one himself. He first became interested in body art aged eight, around the time of his threading ceremony – an initiation rite among upper-caste Hindu males to signify adult religious responsibilities – and developed his skills.

“There was a lot of opposition in my family (to him becoming a tattoo artist),” he said.

“But we asked the scholars and they said tattooing can be taken as an occupation by a priest if it involves spiritual guidance and medicinal use. So, I started tattooing.” Even though he may not be a practising priest in saffron robes, Girish still sees a divine element to his work.

A tattoo, he says, is carried with the soul after death and is a connection to the body’s past in the journey of reincarnation. He has also set himself a target of tattooing 10,000 people with the sacred Hindu syllable “om”, which he pays for himself.

“Many people can’t afford professional tattoos,” he explained. “That’s why I’m doing it… I’ve already completed about 1,000.” The sideline also allows him to educate the public about the dangers of getting cheap tattoos with unclean materials from untrained artists.

“It’s very dangerous,” said Girish. “They can spread hepatitis, HIV and skin diseases. It (tattooing) needs to be safe and knowledge is very important.” The sentiments chime with those of the convention organisers, who want to raise public awareness about how to get tattoos safely as well as the profile of the country’s most talented artists.

Co-organiser Shibhanii Shah, a 25-year-old photographer and artist, said there were some 100,000 tattoo artists in India, demonstrating the potential for development.

But she added: “We don’t have any rules on hygiene and that’s quite disappointing. India needs to get that level where we can show our talent and be as good and as safe a place as anywhere in the world to get a tattoo.”


The Indian Ink Tattoo Expo 2011 - Mumbai

The city got ready to host a first ever tattoo convention which started this weekend. Tattoo art moved from its punky, rebellious image to respectability.

Some think it is a rebellious act, while others think it's cool and consider it as a fashion statement. For many, it is a way to express themselves. Tattoos are poised to become mainstream in urban India. In ancient times, tattoos were popular in India and generally carried religious or spiritual meanings.

In modern times, India's rapid economic prosperity has brought changes in lifestyle of urban youth, who are largely going for western tattoo culture. An increasing number of tattoo studios in Mumbai is an indication of its popularity.

In fact, the latest move to popularise this art form is being undertaken in a more organised manner. This weekend, the city will play host to India's first tattoo convention.

The Indian Ink Tattoo Expo 2011, which will be held at the World Trade Centre in Cuffe Parade, will see tattoo artists from all over the country, showcasing their work. "We have 40-45 tattoo artists participating in the convention.

We have put up 35 stalls out of which 25 stalls are for the tattoo artists where they can showcase their work and anybody can walk in to get a tattoo done," says Shibanii Shah, Proprietor, Eventos Promotions and More.

The convention will also have an adequate representation from Mumbai. Apart from that, the event will have performances by various rock bands and dance troupes. Pay Rs 200 and get a pass for the two-day event.

Ask Shah if the entry fee is steep and she replies, "The whole event is targeted towards a niche audience. So people who are really interested in tattooing, won't mind paying this much."

The cost of organising the convention is around Rs 25 lakh, says Manoj Thakur, co-organiser. Renowned tattoo artists, like, Nepal's Mohan Gurung and Johnny from Singapore will be part of the event. The convention will also have a seminar on black and grey techniques by well-known tattoo artist, Nick Sharma.

Artists
While many participants are full time tattooists, others juggle between work and hobby. Prakash Baing (32), an art director at a gaming company, works as a tattoo artist in his free time. Baing, who used to paint in his studio, Packo Baing at Khargar (Navi Mumbai) to take a break from gaming, soon got hooked to tattooing. He says, "Human body is God's best creation and we decorate the body."

Baing says that his interest in tattooing developed after he visited Thailand nearly two years ago. "I went to Thailand on a holiday. I noticed that tattooing is big there. Since I was already into painting, I took a one-month course in tattooing and since then I have been hooked to it. I was already creative, the course helped me to learn the technical aspects of the art," says Baing.

After returning to Mumbai, Baing set up a studio. He now employs a full time tattoo artist in his studio. "I come to attend clients on weekends and after my work hours, usually in the evening," says Baing, who makes it clear that he does it outside his office hours.

Another part-time tattooist,Roshan Paul (23), started tattooing when he was just 17. Paul, who will be part of the convention, doesn't have a studio, and works as a visiting tattooist. Paul, who also works for an advertising firm, says, "A person is born with a tattoo. My job is just to get it on the skin."

Meaning
Many believe that tattoo is much more than just a fashion statement. "A lot of youngsters tell me that they want to get a tattoo done, but I usually don't entertain them. My clients should have an idea about what they want to get tattooed.

The idea has to be there and then it can be worked upon," says Paul. Baing agrees, "Why get something that you will regret for the rest of your life? When college kids approach me, I ask them think why they want to get something tattooed on their body.

Only after they are sure, I work on them." Unlike Baing and Paul, Al Alva is a full time tattoo artist and runs a tattoo parlour in Bandra (W). So how does he react when somebody approaches him for a tattoo? "Rather than asking why you would want a tattoo, I ask them why would you not want to have one? It is perfectly fine to have tattoos on your body," says Alva.

Business
Established artists can earn anything between Rs 1 lakh and Rs 3 lakh a month, when business is good. Also, artists say gleefully that they are flooded with demands. Some appear so busy they decline new clients.

"I'm booked for the next seven months," says Paul. Dipesh Shah(28), owner of InkTribe, manufacturers and suppliers of tattoo equipment claims that he even exports tattoo machines abroad. Tattoo artists can charge anything between Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000 for a tattoo, which is 6-12 inches long.

Acceptance
In fact tattoos, which were until recently sneered at, are gradually being accepted by society. "It is the same old thing that our forefathers had, so why would you be ashamed of it?" asks Alva. And yet tattoo artists say a large section of the Indian society is reluctant to accept this art form.

Dipesh, who got his first tattoo on his arm says, "I did not show it to my family for two years until one day my mother accidentally discovered it. Initially, my family members were upset. Now they are fine with it. I even got a picture of my parents' tattooed on my arm," says Dipesh, a biomedical engineer by profession.

A tattoo enthusiast, Dipesh has 14 tattoos on his body. Niyoti Upadhye (29), who has three tattoos on her body which includes a dragon fly on her index finger says that, says. initially her parents were not happy when they got to know that she had got a tattoo. "But after they saw it, they were fine with it," she says.

Influence
Tattoos can also have a deep impact on one's life style. For example, Vinay Narkar, an art director who will be modelling his tattoos at the convention for Paul's stall, turned vegetarian after getting his tattoo.

"I went for deep sea diving and was so touched by the beauty of the fishes that I decided to get a Blue Marlin tattooed on my arm. Earlier I used to have fish, but soon I turned vegetarian and completely stopped eating fish," says Narkar.

Many believe that the tattoo on your body becomes part of your personality and an integral part of your life. "I have seen people who have skulls or demons tattooed on their body, getting angry very fast. Similarly, tattoos like those of Ganesha have a calming effect," explains Paul. Rahul Bhatt, who starred in Bigg Boss season 4, has recently got a tattoo of a tiger done on his back.

Bhatt believes that as far as tattoo artists are concerned there is no dearth of talent but there needs to be some kind of regulation on tattoo parlours. "If a rookie decides to open a tattoo parlour and he is not well versed with the technique or doesn't maintain hygiene in the parlour, then chances of infection are there," says Bhatt.

Not only infection, tattoo artists claim that most of the time, they end up doing cover-ups. "Many of my clients ask me to work on tattoos which are already on their body. Either they have been done badly or the client is not happy. So we work on the tattoo and make it look better," explains Paul.

Regulation
The convention will be an opportunity for tattoo artists to take stock of where they stand and how they can popularise the art. In the West, tattoo parlours are required to obtain proper licenses from the authorities.

In India, it is unregulated and any fly-by-night operator can set up a tattoo parlour. If proper sterilisation method is not followed,then customers are susceptible to infection.

Says Ben Irani, an Indian American, who is going to launch his tattoo magazine, D-bloc, during the convention, "This convention will help us create a database of tattoo artists and the kind of work they are doing. It will also help us see and discuss protocol that is to be followed during tattooing."

Cosmetic Tattoos

With the expanding tattoo market, a new form of tattooing is fast emerging. Cosmetic tattooing is a technique where tattooing is done in a way to resemble make-up. For example, eyelining and permanent colours to the skin of the face, lips, and eyelids are applied.

"Usually women prefer pink colour on their lips; darker shade of brown as lip liner; greyish black colour as eye liner; the colour of eyebrows depend on their hair colour," says Dr G Rana, a general practitioner who also runs a tattoo parlour in Wadala.

"We charge anything between Rs 5,000 and Rs 10,000 depending on their requirements," explains Rana. Dr Ishwari Bhirude, a dentist by profession and one of Rana's customers, got a permanent darker shade of red on her lips, recently at Rana's parlour.

"I used to lick my lipstick off inadvertently and consume a lot of wax indirectly. My husband was really concerned. Hence I wanted permanent solution," says Bhirude. Bhirude, who is not a tattoo aficionado, went for cosmetic option.

"Now I just have to apply gloss," she says. Bhirude, now wants to go for a permanent eyeliner as she wants to stay, "beautiful 24X7."

Awesome and Realistic

Sources
La Sumisa

Here's some of the best "Cyborg Tattoos" ever seen.
It takes great skills to pull out a mind blowing design like the ones shown in this posting. Intriguing, interesting and outstanding works or art.

Enjoy

Sources
La Sumisa

10 Assorted UV Flexible Barbell Tongue Piercing Rings 14 Gauge



Product Features

* 10 Assorted Tongue Piercing Rings (no duplicates)
* Thickness: 14 gauge
* Length: 5/8"
* BioFlex Material

Product Description
You You will receive 10 assorted brand new tongue/barbell rings. Barbells are 14 gauge, size is 5/8"/16mm. You will get 10 unique tongue Piercing rings- no duplicates. These are the new rings where the barbell is uv also and flexible - once you wear these you won't go back - I guarantee!!!

Product review:
By: supersweet

I was very satisfied with this order. Arrived on time. They actually messed up and gave me ten extra witch was a + (: Out of them all(20) i got one flexible one that would bend completely. I recommend these because they are easy on your teeth. The assortment was great, couldn't of been any better. I will definitely be ordering this product again in the future!

Body piercings is very trendy among young people both male and female, past the ear piercing but only now do all body piercing such as nose, tongue, navel, eyebrows, lips, and to the genital. Wooow very cool friend ...

Now the choice is on you, like piercing parts of the body which one? If the piercing on the lips and tongue is normal, try to make your body piercing in areas of unusual but remember the hygiene and health in the process of piercing it.

He kneels in front of his crowd, securing the two stainless steel fish hooks in his back to the pulley rigged to the ceiling. The music starts, loud and vibrant, and he is lifted to a standing position. He runs and kicks his feet off the ground until he is swinging back and forth through the air, suspended only by the flesh of his back as it stretches and bends over the hooks that hold him. To make his point, he picks up a man twice his own 160 lbs. and holds him off the ground in a bear hug, his skin resilient, holding the weight of them both. He swings by himself a few seconds more before he cuts himself loose, dropping to his feet again to the roar of the crowd.



For Russ Foxx, a Vancouver body art and modification artist, body suspension is a career, and a way of life. Not only is it a way for him to express himself, he said, it’s a means of helping others discover themselves through a unique and personal experience.

Body suspension originates from ancient Native American and Hindu cultures. Suspension experts who maintain www.suspension.org write that the practice has been going on for thousands of years as rites of passages, healing rituals and as a means of leaving the body and entering the spiritual realm. One notable Native American ritual is the Sundance ritual, in which the person is pierced through the chest and attached to a sacred tree. The person then pulls and dances until the piercing rips free.

Today, Foxx said, most people suspend to gain some sort of experience, whether it be to overcome fears, to gain a new level of understanding spiritually or just for the sheer endorphin release.

When Foxx does private suspensions, it’s usually for first-timers. Foxx encourages everyone to create their own ritual to make the experience more significant, whether it’s using certain lighting or music during the suspension or having certain people present.

According to Foxx, the physical and mental preparation by the suspensionist is the most important part in the prep stages.

“For me as a facilitator, there isn’t a whole lot…to do,” he said. “I already own the equipment. I’ve got it set up. It’s more about the person suspending making sure they’re going to be in a healthy physical and mental state for it, making sure they’ve slept, they’ve eaten (and) they know what they’re getting into.”

Foxx said he is most comfortable when performing public suspensions through his show, The Human Tacklebox. For him, something that is already fun becomes amplified when a crowd of people is watching.

Those who have never tried it often don’t understand the appeal, and though each individual suspends for various reasons, Foxx gets a lot of people suspending for the sheer adrenaline rush.

The body undergoes several stages of pain between preparation and suspension, said Dr. Sekhar Upadhyayula, a pain medicine specialist.

There’s a certain amount of residual pain taking place after the hooks have been inserted into the skin, Upadhyayula said, along with a quick burst of adrenaline. But as soon as there’s traction applied, the nerve endings in the skin’s stretch receptors respond, adding another burst of pain.

Then what we expect to happen chemically…is a secondary release of endorphins. This lasts a lot longer than the pain and that’s the sensation that they’re looking for. That’s when they get the euphoric effect.”

Suspension is most popular among people who are involved in body modification. There's an increase in interest among those in the tattoo community, said Katee Cavallaro, a Florida tattoo apprentice. Many people who are interested in suspension ask their tattoo artists for direction.

Sources

UPI
La Sumisa