menu
...the voice of pensioners

Celebrating the living art canvas…

17 Jul 2021

Dear LPG,

 

Two variables, beauty and pain, have inspired the message I have written especially for today and even though the whole idea has always worried me greatly, there is a dedicated national day, so let’s celebrate or at least acknowledge them.

 

I am talking about tattoos, and I have to say that I don’t think that anything would convince me that this is the way to go.  But I have a friend or two who have some quite beautiful artwork permanently etched on parts of their bodies. 

 

I always thought of it as something that was first used by sailors three or four centuries ago, but I have found some internet information that shows that people started tattooing themselves as far back as during the 30th Century BC, although things have changed since the days of monochrome markings. 

 

Even without looking at a single statistic, you only have to look at the celebrities from all aspects of popular culture; sport, film, music etc., and your friends to know that tattoos are here to stay in more ways than one.  Time was, when they were drawn where they would be covered when we got all dressed up, but now they are seen so often above the shirt collar and below the dress hemline as they continue to become bigger and more detailed than ever.  There is no doubt that there has to be a market for them because most of us who remember anything about our pre-Covid-19 neighbourhoods most probably know where our local tattoo parlour is. 

 

I think that most people of LPG reader age see them as something that younger people get, some on a whim and others having put a great deal of thought into it, but according to the internet, popping off to have one done during a holiday became popular back in the 1970’s when many of my generation were in their 30s, and still up for anything, and a few of my friends have the artistic proof.   

 

I have to say when I see a tattoo on anyone, the thing that I perceive more than anything else is the pain involved, although I love to look at them in pictures where the canvas type is not too obvious. 

 

You either hate them or you like them but celebrate them anyway…

 

BF, Lewisham

 

BF found some facts and history on the subject…

 

 

(►►►)   (►►►)    (►►►)   (►►►)     (►►►)    (►►►)    (►►►)

 

 

. a few relevant statistics…

 

  (►►►)     (►►►)   

 

 

…and some beautiful and frighteningly realistic art work for you to take a look at…

 

(►►►)   (►►►)     (►►►)    (►►►)   (►►►)