Stained, Not Tarnished: A Heuristic Study of Tattoos and Symbolism from an Art Therapy Perspective

Abstract

The practice of tattooing has been around for thousands of years, but has not been given positive attention in Western cultures until recently. Art therapy holds the power to further positive opinions on this art form by viewing a client’s tattoos as an expression of self through personal symbols. Much of the existing literature surrounding the topic of tattoos discusses how they are perceived by others; literature centered on the personal, lived experience of those with tattoos is particularly lacking. In this heuristic self-study, the researcher immersed himself in the history of tattoos and sought to understand through his own experience of creating a tattoo image how personal symbols and worldview are integral to the process people go through to create their body art. Findings indicate that in the process of designing a tattoo a person pulls from a wide variety of conscious and unconscious sources that hold personal symbolic meaning, and undergoing a mindful process of symbolizing in order to create a tattoo can lead to increased self-awareness and self-understanding. Further research into ties between identity, tattoos, and art therapy could lead to an improved understanding of tattoos as self-symbols, their psychological benefits, and how they can be used in the process of therapy.