Tattoo Psychology
The other night I was too tired to really read, too lazy to put in a movie, so I ended up watching a run of the television show Miami Ink. I’d seen bits and pieces of it, but never really watched any full shows. Now in the spirit of disclosure, I don’t have any tattoos and while I would like a small celtic triad on my shoulder blade–I doubt I’ll ever manage to ignore the pain issue. My brother has a great deal of tattoos and has recently started doing tattoos–I’m pretty impressed with the knotwork pieces he has done on himself already. But I’m wandering–the point is, I was really surprised how much the tatoo artist was in some ways a therapist. Some of this might be the particular cases that the show tends to focus on, but each person who sat down in the chair had a story to tell, very often sad, always interesting and each story was linked to the tattoo and why the images were significant.
It was fascinating to me because what people were really doing went well beyond a decorative statement–they seemed to be illustrating important elements of their lives. A father memorialized a son who lived only briefly, a mother her four children including a daughter who had died young, a nephew his 90+ aunt who was a nun, a grandson his grandfather who had meant so much to him–on and on through the stories (sprinkled with a few who just wanted something to decorate or shock). Not that this completely surprised me, I understand that people’s tattoos have very real significance to them–I was more surprised with the process and the role of the tattooist as both artist and therapist. The tattoo artists listened to story after story, many heartbreaking, as they went to work permanently leaving record of that person’s personal history. Most said very little, nodding, asking a small question here and there, making noises of sympathy–listening. It seemed the customers ended up with more than just a tattoo, for that time they also had someone listen to them, hear them, and hear them enough to help them pick out something that symbolized what it was that was so important they wanted the world to see.
“Our life is composed greatly from dreams, from the unconscious, and they must be brought into connection with action. They must be woven together.” ~Anais Nin
Wow that’s so awesome to hear someone else say that! Yes, I love watching Miami Ink and hearing the stories. I had never really observed the tattoo artists, though, but you’re absolutely right; they really do listen to that person.
My pastor’s wife told me once that tattoos can be a way of telling the story of your life on your body and I completely agree. Our bodies can tell our own stories.
Great post!
Great post. I watch Miami ink frequently, both for the tattooing and the stories. Alot of the people are coming direct from the heart when they get something done and most artists do listen and offer advice. It’s like a two for one deal, therapy and something to remember the things we want to hold onto. I have a few tattoos myself, well not a few but more like alot. I have both my kids names on my chest and the rest of them are memories of the person I used to be and am becoming. Alot of my tattoos teach me little lessons, mistakes I’ve made, etc. One that i got when I was 20 never made sense until now, it is the word “Pain” across my stomach. I never knew why I had it done but the answer rears it’s head frequently on this path. There is alot of pain we must deal with, and I think by naming it I was able to get over a good amount of it.
ps. You should get that Celtic Knot, it’s some of my favorite work to see and it’s really beautiful if a good artist does it.