Skip to content

LARS KRUTAK

Tattoo Anthropologist

  • Articles
  • News
  • Videos
    • clips
    • full episodes
  • Lectures
  • Book shop
  • Bibliography
  • Contact
  •  
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
  • Facebook
July 11, 2015February 11, 2018

TATTOOS ARE A KIND OF LITERATURE

Tattoo News

INSET: Kayan tattoos, ca. 1930. Photograph by H. F. Tillema.

Here’s an idea. Tattoos are a kind of LITERATURE.

If you know how to read them, says anthropologist Lars Krutak, they tell you many things about the person who wears them.

For the Calgary Herald online story, please click here…

Or read the article excerpt below>>>

Doc1

Share this:

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Google
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Reddit
  • More
  • Print
  • Tumblr
  • Pocket

Post navigation

Previous article THE INDONESIAN NEW WAVE: TATTOOS FROM PARADISE
Next article BOOK LECTURE: TATTOO TRADITIONS OF NATIVE NORTH AMERICA

Latest on Instagram

  • Thank you @tattoodo for the interview! Happy New Years to you all!! https://www.tattoodo.com/a/2018/12/the-anthropology-of-tattoos-interview-with-lars-krutak/
  • "Marau Kingi," a Maori woman with chiseled lip and chin moko, ca. 1920. Sadly, I have no information on this person, but maybe someone in the Instagram universe does!? Photo postcard from my collection. #maori #maoritattoo #newzealand #polynesiantattoos #polynesiantattoo #maoris #culturalappreciation #indigenous #heritage #traditionaltattoos #traditionaltattoo #tattoo #tattoos #tradition #portrait
  • "Georgina & Eileen, twin guides of Whakarewarewa, Rotorua North Island." These two Arawa sisters worked in the Thermal Springs District of Rotorua guiding tourists around the area. They both have chin and lip moko made with darning needles. Original postcard from my collection by Iles ca. 1910-15. #tattoo #tattoos #maori #newzealand #rotorua #indigenous #portrait #tattooing #traditionaltattoos #traditionaltattoo #culturalappreciation #heritage #tradition #postcard #polynesiantattoo
  • Kamareira Te Hau Takiri Wharepapa of Ngati Horahia, Nga Titoki, Ngapuhi of Northland, ca. 1920. He traveled to England in 1863 and met Queen Victoria. His moko is over painted to accentuate his facial tattoos which were chiseled into the skin. His hei tiki (necklace) seems to be purposefully turned away from the viewer, perhaps so the mana of the piece would not be affected by the photography. Unused postcard from my collection. #maori #maoritattoo #tattoo #tattoos #culturalappreciation #portrait #heritage #moko #newzealand #warriors #indigenous #blackwork #blackworktattoos #tattooing #traditionaltattoo #polynesiantattoo #tatouage #tatau #tiki
  • Wetani Rore, A Maori Chief of Ngati Maniapoto & Ngati Kahungunu, ca. 1910. The short lines on his forehead may indicate he was a teacher of weapons. He wears two types of flax cloaks and holds an ornate hand club or wahaika. Postcard from my collection. #maori #maoritattoo #tattoo #culturalappreciation #portrait #tattoos #heritage #moko #newzealand #traditionaltattoo #culturalheritage #warriors #indigenous #blackworktattoo #tattooing #tradition #polynesiantattoo
  • 90+ year-old Leichat Wangnao, a Konyak warrior of Joboka village, Nagaland. Mr. Wangnao is one of only two tattooed Konyak warriors living in his village - the other is 103-year-old Ashen. He took his first head at the age of 14, and acquired three more over the course of his career. The faded zigzagging lines tattooed on his wrinkled arms tally the total number of successful military campaigns he participated in - four. The symmetry of his facial tattooing created a perfectly clear diamond on his nose. All of the tattooing was performed by a female artist, a queen (anghya) of the village. Photo on location, May 2018. #konyak #nagaland #india #warriors #warrior #warriortattoo #hero #indigenous #culture #traditionaltattoos #traditionaltattoo #heritage #blackwork #headhunter #elders #wisdom #asia #portrait #travelphotography #tradition
  • Countdown to the upcoming exhibition GREY IS THE NEW PINK (opening: October 25, 7pm) at the Weltkulturen Museum, Frankfurt! PHOTO: 102-year-old Atayal elder Iwan Kaynu. "Facial tattoos were the mark of an ideal woman," she said. #weltkulturenmuseum #taiwan #atayal #culture #ageinggracefully #ageing #pink #traditionaltattoos #beauty #traditionaltattoo #asiatattoo
  • The legendary, late great headman of the Skrang Iban Aki Basai and his WWII veteran buddy Jentang (background, both Iban Rangers) of Emperan, Sarawak (Borneo). His magical eyebrow tattoos made women fall into his arms - no kidding! Treasured ikat pua kumbu's hang on the back wall, 2002. #borneo #iban #asiantattoo #malaysia #skrang #indigenous #veteran #heroes #rangers #traditionaltattoos #blackwork #magic #eyebrows #culture #photography #tattoo #ikat #facetattoo #wwii #warriors #tradition

Follow Me on Instagram

Explore the site

  • Magical tattooing
  • Medicinal tattooing
  • Scarification
  • Tattoo conventions
  • Tattoo shops
  • Tattooing women
  • Traditional techniques
  • Exhibitions
  • Lars’ tattoos

Connect with Lars

  • Instagram
  • Youtube
  • Facebook

Sign Up for Updates


Proudly powered by WordPress | Theme: perle by Nudge Themes.
loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.