Tattoos

[Amobokoboko]

Hi guys,

I have always had a fascination for tattoo’s, especially the Polynesian and Japanese tattoos. While living in New Zealand, some friends of mine drew me some designs they wanted to ink on me but I was low on cash so next time I visit my friends and family I might get some.

As it is summer now, people tend to show their ink as well and many fellow countrymen seem to share my interest in the above-mentioned styles.
Nowadays people take a tattoo to remember a special occasion or just to visualize a certain mood, feeling etc…

When talking to those people they are really enthusiastic about their design but when they tell me they got it here in Belgium, the Netherlands by a local artist I feel that the true meaning of some of the symbols they carry on their body loses it value.

My friends in NZ, being Maori, Tongan, Fijian or Samoan studied quite a long time in designing and learning about the meaning of the symbols they use. I reckon the Japanese artists do the same. Over here in Europe, I feel that most artists copy the original design, give it their own twist and sell it that way. Which is a pity, as the history and story are lost.

I’m not saying people shouldn’t get those tattoos but I would support them in getting the entire experience.

What’s your opinion about it.

If you have a Tattoo, feel free to share it.

 

[jawmalawm24]

I have heaps of workmates that have tatoo's I think there's probably more people at work with them than without lol. Anyway when people first started getting the tribal Maori tatoo's I was happy because it showed alot of meaning and culture but now I'm seeing the same tatoo's on heaps of people and it's kind of lost it's novelty. I'm Maori and I like my bro's tatoo's but they're all starting to look the same to me. I like looking at my Tongan and Samoan bro's tatoo's because they're different to what I'm use to seeing and alot of them are done traditionally not just walk into a shop and I'll get that one pointing to a design type thing.

I've never thought about getting ink done but if I ever did it'll have to be in the traditional way and in a area that's covered because alot of people have them for show and I'm not into that really.

 

[Amobokoboko]

Same here, my mates did some designs for me and when returning to NZ I may ask them to ink me.