Scarification/ White Ink Tattoos

The work of some of the artists like Rhian Solomon reminds me of scarification...

History Of Scarification

Using scars to mark the body as a right of passage or to mark an event has been going on for thousands of years. Even today scarification is a common practice in Austrailia, New Guinea, and West Africa.Facial scarring was a popular practice among the Huns during the 4th to 6th century.The Māori of New Zealand used a form of ink rubbing scarification to produce facial tattoos known as “moko”. Moko were considered to make the body complete. Māori bodies were considered to be naked without these scars. Moko were unique to each person and served as a sort of signature. Some Māori chiefs even used the pattern of their moko as their signatures on early land treaties with Europeans.

Relating to Sims research on tattoos and skin pigmentation there is a trend in white ink tattoos at the moment; it uses a translucent ink that appears ghostly on dark skin and like scarring on pale skin. It is this appearance of scarification that has become the trend.

Natalie