After a long hiatus, inspiration hit me after my visit to the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco.
The special exhibition on Japanese tattoo prints was the highpoint. I was unaware of the popularity of tattoos in wrestling and acting community in Japan of the 1800s.
The tattoos blending subtly with ornate garments in the ink prints was a sight to behold.
Apart from the artistic nuances, the social implications of tattooing in Japan was an interesting part of the exhibit. Did you know that the criminals were tattooed with special marks in particular prefecture? That was done so that the criminals were restricted from continuing their criminal activities in other parts of the country. Additionally, removing the tattoos was a form of punishment!
Kalemighty 