Tatuagem: uma linguagem corporal/visual

Abstract

The presented research offers a comprehensive analysis of tattooing, exploring its evolution from an ancestral cultural expression to its incorporation into contemporary art and individual artistic practice. Tattooing is examined as a multifaceted phenomenon that reflects identity, history, and social transformations over time. Initially, tattooing is contextualized in its traditional role across various cultures, where it serves as a rite of passage, a status symbol, and a form of healing. The influence of European sailors and the subsequent marginalization of tattooing are discussed, as well as its forced and dehumanizing use during the Holocaust. The transition to contemporary art is marked by the redefinition of tattooing as a form of artistic expression, with artists exploring its possibilities in contexts of Body Art and bodily modifications. Wim Delvoye’s work “Tim” and Santiago Sierra’s interventions exemplify this phase, challenging notions of commercialization and objectification of the body. Finally, the research culminates with a personal reflection on the practice of tattooing as an artist and tattooist, highlighting the creation of works that utilize the aesthetics of tattooing to express individual memories and experiences. The project “192 Needles: Transversal Narratives” symbolizes this approach, transforming used tattoo needles into elements of an artistic installation that narrates personal and collective stories.