This weekend I headed down to the Horniman museum to attend a lecture by Matt Hodder on the history of the tattoo. This was part of the museum lates weekend - where participating museums in the capital open late (or all night) for various events.
Matt's talk charted the history of tattooing as an artistic practice in Europe and America. Beginning in naval and religious communities in the 16th and 17th century, its trend setting period with wealthy aristocrats in the 19th century and its seeming ubiquity at the beginning of the 21st. He focused on tattoos as an art form, considering the role of tattoo artists, and examined developments in form, genre, style and technology. He presented a unique art historical perspective on a method of art making which has been misunderstood for so long.
He is currently working on a book which I have no doubt will be a fascinating read. Watch this space.......
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