World Tattoo Trends: Feminine, Tribal, Portrait, Asian, Calligraphy

I attended the ‘8th Art Tattoo Montreal’ lately. This Quebec convention showcases the best in contemporary tattoo art. The works of 150 international inking artists were on display. Although I don’t have any ink, the event has open up my eyes to the mesmerising world of body art, or what I called “body in beauty”.

Any Google search for the term “tattoos” generates numerous results, e.g. Miami Ink, However, many of the results relate to gallery, images or pictures. There are few discussions on trends and styles. In fact, I have discovered the world's most popular, cool and funky urban ink designs.

In the past, few women get tattoos. Of those who did, we consider them rebellious or eccentric. Today, many women and girls are fond of ink. Since they are generally small and have delicate physiques, many choose feminine designs. Often, these designs for women are smaller and prettier than those for men. Some of the popular feminine styles include butterfly, star, flower, fairy, and heart.

Guys have been the staunch supporters of tattoos for a long time. In our society, the concept of masculinity is deeply entrenched in the ink. Think of bikers, athletes, or pop icons. Skin art confers bravery, power, strength and of course sexiness. Men's ink is unmistakably daring, bold, eye-catching, and may cover a large part of the body. Best designs for men include tiger, dragon, male gimmicks like tools, cars, motorcycles, instruments and more.

Tribal tattoos are causing quite a stir these days. When I search for information, the terms crept up in many major sites. These steamy styles originate in the remote parts of the world, e.g. Papua New Guinea, Polynesia, and Hawaii. In these cultures, body art is a rite of passage to adulthood. Some tribal tattoos have deep religious meanings. Others transpire sacred revelations. Tribal styles can be traditional or abstract. They include solid curvy lines, interlocking pattern, vivid symmetrical swirls and more. Men are especially fond of tribal designs.

If you have watched the movie Elm Street, you would know what is horror or fear tattoos. Horror has been an indispensable part of skin art. They are favored by a select of loyal devotees. Often, these devotees may be fond of heavy metal, adventures or extreme sports. Horror designs are characterized by dramatic themes like ghost, spirit, death, blood, skull, scary or ugly images, devil, scream, or witches. In essence, any image that inspires horror and intimidation.

Portrait requires the mastery of exceptional drawing skills. The same is true for portrait tattoo. Meticulous observation and careful detailing is the tips of any portrait. Often, fine line technique and delicacy are required. Some people said that the best design is portrait. Do you agree? Anyway, a well drawn portrait should show resemblances to the artworks of the National Portrait Gallery. Celebrity Kat Von D has an impressive collection of these. Portrait designs can be idols, pets, movie icons, person in memory, or simply an imaginary figure which you fantasize.

Some designs can be termed “Old School” style tattoos. These traditional designs are recognizable by their simplicity. They are done in black ink with a touch of color. During the early days, the absence of color ink means there are few custom options for clients. Though old school styles still predominate, exotic, tantalizing designs from the Far East have been introduced. Asian tattoos incorporate elaborate, delicate elements from China, Japan, and Tibet. What distinguishes Asian ink designs from the mainstream ones is the subject. Asian designs can be paintings, symbols, characters, writing, or mythology. They look like the ancient hand scrolls. Popular Asian designs include Japanese Kanji symbols, Chinese zodiac and horoscope, Tibetan Buddhism. Popular choices include phoenix, samurai, deities, cherry blossom, crane, and koi fish.

Calligraphy is writing that uses aesthetic styles or embellishments to create beautiful, hand written, script looking text. There are many types of calligraphy tattoos, for instance, Hebrew calligraphy, Western calligraphy (Old English), Islamic calligraphy. These days, what is really catching on the most is Chinese calligraphy tattoos. Chinese calligraphy goes back some 5,000 years. It is deeply revered and practised by people in Asia. The subtle beauty of Chinese characters or symbols made it ideal for body decoration. Aside from being “a beautiful writing”, Chinese calligraphy is indeed text. This means calligraphy tattoo conveys meanings just like any ordinary language. Celebrity David Beckham has an attractive yet philosophical calligraphy writing inked to his body. It is a Chinese proverb which says “life and death are destined; wealth and honor depend on heaven”. Calligraphy designs can relate to Chinese philosophy, Confucius quotes, Taoism, yin yang, I Ching, Tao Te Ching, Chinese idioms, wise sayings, etc.

Traditionally, tattoos are worn in the core parts of the body, e.g. back, arm, chest. Nowadays, New School style has added a new twist on permanent ink. Skin art is no longer confined to the core parts. People choose to ink any parts of their bodies as they wish, e.g., private parts (buttock), neglected spots (toe, finger, neck), or unnoticeable areas (ear, tongue).

Given the growth of body art, can we predict what designs will rise in the future? I believe that Asian tattoos and Calligraphy tattoos will be the red hot styles in the world. With the shrinking of distance brought by technology, ink culture will be the fusion of East and West. It will be a smorgasbord of occidental and oriental influences. Urban body art will be eclectic, reflective of the diversity, richness and progress of society. In sum, a world of “body in beauty” awaits us. Let us witness that!