Thai Tattoos
January 9, 2012 by Mitchell
Filed under Head Banger Tattoos
Product Description b Leigh Carnachan, known in the tattoo art world as Leighderhosen, is a free hand watercolor and ink artist doing the occasional acrylic piece for exhibitions. Aside from her tattoo work, her designs can be found on t-shirts and canvas around the world. She is based out of Brisbane, Australia.
/b p Made-to-order Giclee fine art reproductions on canvas featuring the original artwork of today’s hottest tattoo artists. Stretched and ready to hang. Museum gallery wrap extends the canvas over the sides. Sawtooth metal hanger. 1.25′ thick. High-gloss finish. b Authorized Dealer of BlackMarket Art-Lowbrow’s fine products. /b p u Domestic Shipping /u ‘ free shipping to US addresses. p u International Shipping /u ‘ is only available for sizes A, B, and C. p b Please allow up to 14 days before art ships. /b p These gallery-quality reproductions are made by the most technologically advanced ink-jet printers available today, which are able to generate over 16.7 million different colors. They are printed on museum-grade poly-cotton canvas with a bright white point and high gloss. This allows for vivid rich color and subtle details. Each canvas is individually hand-stretched around finger-jointed kiln-dried pine for maximum stability and durability.
In America, we don’t necessarily think of our tattoos as holy. Meaningful, perhaps, or simply beautiful, but mostly devoid of serious spiritual tradition on more than an individual level. Not so in Thailand, where the spiritual ‘Yantra’ tattoo tradition merges sacred art with the bodies of the believers.
Our friends atLost at E Minortipped us off to this amazing project by Cedric Arnold, a French and British photographer who divides his time between London and Bangkok. Arnold writes, ‘A chest etched with a fierce leaping tiger, a hand adorned with images of geckos on each finger, a back protected by a monkey God, or a shoulder inscribed with ancient Khmer text, sacred ink, believed to have mystical powers. Known in Thai as ‘sak yant’, the tattoos are a testament to the complex spiritual makeup of Thai society, incorporating elements of Buddhism, Animism, Brahmanism and Hinduism.’ They are also beautiful to behold, and Arnold’s black and white photography does them perfect justice.Click through to see some of the photographs that blew us away, then make sure to click over to Arnold’s website for even more. The one way link building service.
Thai Tattoos are more than artwork on skin, and choosing the right tattoo school is an important factor in determining the tattoo training students will receive. There is a deep belief in tattoos that goes to the very core of Thai society. An inseparable intertwining of spiritualism with the tattoos makes their meaning even more special.
Despite Buddhist beliefs that are prevalent in Thai society, the people have a strong belief in Animism, which they have woven into the fabric of their culture. Animism refers to the union of spirit and matter, a lack of separation between body and soul. It is believed that all life forms have a soul and this includes animals, insects and plants.
Sacred SkinThailands Spirit Tattoos, the new two-hundred page, eight-by-ten-inch guide to sak yant protection tattoos by Tom Vater, with color photography by Aroon Thaewchatturat, is a beautifully organized, visual treat for both tattoo artists and collectors. Divided into easily navigable sections (Sak Yant, Master and Devotees, Sacred Images, Wai Khruthe annual day of respect held in central Thailandand a helpful Glossary), this clearly-written, entertaining treatise is packed with fascinating facts and descriptions of every aspect of this time-honored art form. But its the photos that steal the show.
On one had you have a Government Agency trying to enforce what would amount to religious interpretation of correct religious dogma and on the other hand a respect for Thai traditions. One does have to wonder how they would enforce such a ban ‘ and the practicalities of such a ban. Would it be a foreign Buddhist could get one, but not a Christian.
What about Thai Muslims or Hindus.. How do you tell exactly who is Buddhist and what branch of Buddhism they belong to. Perhaps the ban could also be widened to apply to the wearing of Christian crosses by Thai non-Christians as a crime’ and what exactly would be the penalty if a Thai tattooist who does do the work. Would foreigners be banned on entry if they do have one.