As I've finally confessed to having a tattoo, I might as well share my thoughts on tattoos generally, and also try to explain my own choice of design.
I was brought up in a tattoo-free environment. No one I knew had a tattoo (well not a visible one anyway). Family, friends, neighbours no one had an inking that I could see. There's a possibility my friend's Dad (a policeman) had one on his arm but if he did, I only saw it on rare occasions, and not often enough to become curious about it.
At uni, I came across a few people with tattoos, but as most people I was surrounded by had just turned 18, it still wasn't a common sight. The fashion for women to get lower back images, or characters on the back of their shoulders was still a few years away.
As I moved to the Isle of Man, tattoos became much more common. I was mixing with different social backgrounds and fashions were also changing. The style of hipster trousers and crop tops came, revealing hips and bare midrifts. It was probably around this time that I consciously debated getting a tattoo, but it had to be 'right' if I did. Curiously, it was my wife who got one first, a chinese symbol on her shoulder. It looked really nice, and I'd definately describe it as sexy.
I'll take a step sideways to offer my own personal opinion on tattoos in general. On a man, I have no problems with tattoos at all. What interests me more is WHY they chose the image they did. I'd prefer that they were placed in a position that is easily covered. That's not me being a prude. I just think that a tattoo is a personal thing that can be exposed if required, but is not 'forced' upon people who don't like them. Tattoos on the neck, or knuckles just don't do anything for me because I don't have the choice of not looking at it.
For women, that sort of doesn't apply. A strategically placed tattoo is an extremely sexy thing, even if it's permenantly visible. A small image on the hips, or upper boob is fascinating. It's even more fascinating if it is only partially visible...gives the brain a thrill to imagine the rest of it. I'm not a HUGE fan of the lower back tattoos that seem to crop up now. It's lovely if the woman has a well toned body, but so many of them seem to be on ladies who should think about dressing a little bit more conservatively. I'd never judge someone for a tattoo though, male or female.
For both sexes there is one golden rule that I believe in.... the tattoo has to mean something. I could not imagine walking into a parlour and just picking a picture off the wall. It won't be unique and ultimately it's meaningless.
Anyway, back to me. So nearly ten years ago I thought about getting a tattoo, but my wife beat me to it. I still thought about it though, but what to get? If you knew me growing up, you'd know I had a love of 'icons' and striking imagery. My duvet covers had the playboy bunny on them (can't believe women have stolen that from us now!), my pin-ups were of Marilyn Monroe, one of the greatest icons of the 20th century. I adored Egyptian hieroglyphics, particularly King Tut's mask.... but these all seemed cliched as a tattoo.
The idea of a asian language symbol was also considered, but again it had already 'been done'.
My music tastes hadn't changed much over time, so I also thought about the imagery of Pink Floyd. Gerald Scarfe's spidery writing from 'The Wall', the robotic handshake from 'Wish You Were Here' and top of the list, the famous prism from 'Dark Side of the Moon' with the refraction of light, and that remained top of my list for quite a while....
...until I had a brainwave. What else had been with me throughout my life and wasn't likely to go away very soon? Maths.... and what does Maths use, more than any other academic subject? Symbols.
To cut a long story short (too late) I came up with the idea of 'Pi'. I discussed it with a friend, and before you can recite Pi to 20 decimal places she had designed a unique 'Pi' for me. About a month later it was there on my upper arm, and I love it. Not only is it an instantly recognizable 'symbol', it also represents one of the most powerful numbers in Mathematics.
I've followed my own rules: it's in a place that I can easily hid it, yet I can reveal it if someone wants to see it. It's uniquely designed, there isn't an identical 'Pi' anywhere in the world, and it's personal to me.
So there you go. I didn't get it as an act of defience, I didn't get it because of peer pressure, I got it because I find tattoos fascinating and it was an opportunity to do something just for me. It does have one drawback though....
.....makes it easier to identify me in a police line-up! :o)
I was brought up in a tattoo-free environment. No one I knew had a tattoo (well not a visible one anyway). Family, friends, neighbours no one had an inking that I could see. There's a possibility my friend's Dad (a policeman) had one on his arm but if he did, I only saw it on rare occasions, and not often enough to become curious about it.
At uni, I came across a few people with tattoos, but as most people I was surrounded by had just turned 18, it still wasn't a common sight. The fashion for women to get lower back images, or characters on the back of their shoulders was still a few years away.
As I moved to the Isle of Man, tattoos became much more common. I was mixing with different social backgrounds and fashions were also changing. The style of hipster trousers and crop tops came, revealing hips and bare midrifts. It was probably around this time that I consciously debated getting a tattoo, but it had to be 'right' if I did. Curiously, it was my wife who got one first, a chinese symbol on her shoulder. It looked really nice, and I'd definately describe it as sexy.
I'll take a step sideways to offer my own personal opinion on tattoos in general. On a man, I have no problems with tattoos at all. What interests me more is WHY they chose the image they did. I'd prefer that they were placed in a position that is easily covered. That's not me being a prude. I just think that a tattoo is a personal thing that can be exposed if required, but is not 'forced' upon people who don't like them. Tattoos on the neck, or knuckles just don't do anything for me because I don't have the choice of not looking at it.
For women, that sort of doesn't apply. A strategically placed tattoo is an extremely sexy thing, even if it's permenantly visible. A small image on the hips, or upper boob is fascinating. It's even more fascinating if it is only partially visible...gives the brain a thrill to imagine the rest of it. I'm not a HUGE fan of the lower back tattoos that seem to crop up now. It's lovely if the woman has a well toned body, but so many of them seem to be on ladies who should think about dressing a little bit more conservatively. I'd never judge someone for a tattoo though, male or female.
For both sexes there is one golden rule that I believe in.... the tattoo has to mean something. I could not imagine walking into a parlour and just picking a picture off the wall. It won't be unique and ultimately it's meaningless.
Anyway, back to me. So nearly ten years ago I thought about getting a tattoo, but my wife beat me to it. I still thought about it though, but what to get? If you knew me growing up, you'd know I had a love of 'icons' and striking imagery. My duvet covers had the playboy bunny on them (can't believe women have stolen that from us now!), my pin-ups were of Marilyn Monroe, one of the greatest icons of the 20th century. I adored Egyptian hieroglyphics, particularly King Tut's mask.... but these all seemed cliched as a tattoo.
The idea of a asian language symbol was also considered, but again it had already 'been done'.
My music tastes hadn't changed much over time, so I also thought about the imagery of Pink Floyd. Gerald Scarfe's spidery writing from 'The Wall', the robotic handshake from 'Wish You Were Here' and top of the list, the famous prism from 'Dark Side of the Moon' with the refraction of light, and that remained top of my list for quite a while....
...until I had a brainwave. What else had been with me throughout my life and wasn't likely to go away very soon? Maths.... and what does Maths use, more than any other academic subject? Symbols.
To cut a long story short (too late) I came up with the idea of 'Pi'. I discussed it with a friend, and before you can recite Pi to 20 decimal places she had designed a unique 'Pi' for me. About a month later it was there on my upper arm, and I love it. Not only is it an instantly recognizable 'symbol', it also represents one of the most powerful numbers in Mathematics.
I've followed my own rules: it's in a place that I can easily hid it, yet I can reveal it if someone wants to see it. It's uniquely designed, there isn't an identical 'Pi' anywhere in the world, and it's personal to me.
So there you go. I didn't get it as an act of defience, I didn't get it because of peer pressure, I got it because I find tattoos fascinating and it was an opportunity to do something just for me. It does have one drawback though....
.....makes it easier to identify me in a police line-up! :o)
2 comments:
That's well cool! :D And I thought I was clever getting a celtic cross...
Cheers. I think it's cool too. Perhaps a bit 'geeky' but that somes me up to a tee! :)
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