Tattoos are more than ink on skin, they are a form of expression, identity, and memory. For many, tattoos mark personal milestones, honor loved ones, or simply serve as art that one chooses to carry.
Tattooing has existed for over 5,000 years and involves inserting pigment into the skin to create permanent designs. The term “tattoo” comes from Polynesian and Tahitian words meaning “to strike” or “to mark.”
When Spanish colonizers arrived in 1521, they encountered tattooed Visayans and called them Pintados, or “the painted ones.” These tattoos were not just decorative, they were symbols of bravery, strength, and status.
The meaning behind a tattoo varies from person to person. Some individuals use body art as a therapeutic response to navigating identity, social norms, loss, grief, trauma, and more.