tribal tattoo gallery
Tribal tattoos have become common in today’s society. Many of today’s celebrities are showing off their tribal tattoos, with one of the most recognized is Dwayne Johnson, better known as The Rock. He has a tribal tattoo on his shoulder and upper arm, showcasing his Samoan ancestry. Other celebrities with tribal tattoos include Mike Tyson and Pamela Anderson.
The word tattoo was actually given to us by the Samoans. Originally spelled tatau, the practice was adopted by some sailors from Europe, which introduced it to the western civilizations. You could see these men with their tattoos all over their chests and arms. However, the art of tattooing has been practiced for thousands of years and can be dated back to around 1000 AD. The Maori moved to New Zealand about this time and brought this art with them. The ta moko face tattoos became a sort of rite of passage for young Moari men. Many Polynesians tribes still practice this today.
Many of the designs used today are from Borneo. They are melded together with the Samoan art to create today’s impressions of these tattoos. The 21st century has really added uniqueness to this art, as color tattoos become more plentiful. Tattoos are very personal to most people and many will often talk of the history of tattoo when discussing their own body artwork.
Some of today’s tattoo artists will not do tribal tattoo art. They often feel there is not enough challenge in this style of tattoo. This is not always the case. The history of the tribal tattoo is meaningful to many people, especially those with Polynesian ancestry. This tattoo is usually placed on the large muscles of the body and requires an even coloring, which is sometimes difficult to achieve. Speak with your local tattoo artist to see if they are the right one to design and apply your tribal tattoo.