According to Professor Nicholas Thomas, Director of the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology at the University of Cambridge, nowadays we understand our bodies as a way of expressing ourselves. They’re not something we were given, but they’re adaptable to our circumstances and personalities.
In the same way, identity has made a huge shift in the way it’s perceived. Just as we do with our bodies, the idea of identity is determined by the way our geographical existence evolved, and now it’s established by our affinities and personal interests, including our spiritual beliefs. So, what role does getting a sacred tattoo play in our modern conception of identity? Moreover, are we entitled to follow ancestral traditions when we no longer follow those patterns?
Those questions can be answered through the works of Brazilian tattoo artist, Brian Gomes, who is known for creating incredible designs inspired by ancestral tribal patterns and meanings. For Gomes, tattoos are the external reflection of our inner self and beauty, and in that way, the best way to express who we are is by honoring the spiritual intention of ancestral cultures.
“I’m constantly inspired by Brazilian indigenous graphics, sacred geometry, Islamic, and oriental patterns.”
However, it’s not just copying or reproducing any particular design. As Professor Thomas states, in our modern quest for individual identity, it has become common to look back at these traditions to find something that talks to us on a spiritual level. Moreover, with globalization, we’ve been able to see a wider range of cultures around the world we can be more identified with, instead of the one we’re given by our place of birth. In that way, what Gomes does is reinterpret the meaning of tribal designs, so they can speak to us on an individual level.
“Tattoos are the ripe fruit of the soul; they are our inner beauty.”
Is this appropriation? Although it’s a highly controversial subject, this tattoo artist doesn’t intend to exploit anything from these traditions. Instead, these designs can be seen as universal meanings, capable of speaking to us on a individual level, rather than as part of a collective. The thing is that we’re living in a time of social and identity turmoil, where spirituality (not understood as religion) is no longer prioritized. Therefore, we try to fill that spiritual void with answers and meanings, and these tattoos can be the best way to do so. Tattoos are our way of reinventing ourselves in a permanent way.
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***If you want to explore more of Brian Gomes’ neo-tribal tattoos (as he calls them) and see how he adapts and reinterprets the designs of ancestral tribes (especially those from the Amazonian region), explore his personal Instagram account: @briangomes ***
Source:
CNN
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