SIGNATURES OF THE SOUL. TATTOOING TODAY

Signatures of the Soul shows some of the most spectacular contemporary tattooing in the world, and meets the artists who practise this most hidden of art forms.

Countries visited are:
New Zealand: where the Maori developed the world’s most striking tattoo - the full facial ‘Moko’ - an art which is still in practise today.
Samoa: One of the Pacific Islands where Polynesian ‘Tatau’ was first seen by European explorers and the English word ‘tattoo’ originated.
Los Angeles: where the ‘Neo Tribal’ solid black design is popular; “Photo Realist fine-line” work adopted in East Los Angeles for gang based Chicano clients.
San Francisco: where America’s ‘tattooed man’ runs a Tattoo Art Museum with its collection or remarkable historic photos.
Japan: where the world’s most impressive and extreme tattooing is taking place, hidden away from the general public who regard a tattoo as definite proof of membership to the Yakuza - the Japanese gangster class.