Customer Reviews

Body Type: Intimate Messages Etched in Flesh

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Although this charming little book is a quick read, it deserves to be returned to many times, to really admire and appreciate all of the unique, amazing, and well-done tattoos on display therein. In recent years, the old stereotypes of body modifications and the people who get them have been changing for the better. This book can only help in that endeavor. Far from displaying a bunch of bikers, criminals, delinquents, soldiers, and sailors, the type of people who are stereotypically associated with tattoos, these are people from a wide range of walks of life. Many of them are professionals and educated, and all put a lot of thought into these tattoos. And far from being the stereotypical fare of skulls, hearts, roses, and pin-ups girls, the tattoos themselves are also from a very diverse sampling.

The book was inspired by a typographic tattoo which Ms. Saltz saw on the subway one day, and after that discovery (which her subject happily let her photograph), she began seeing more and more tattoos that contained words, letters, and typographical symbols instead of the more standard traditional pictorial images. These people used a wide variety of typefaces for these tattoos, and sometimes even designed their own typefaces. I loved the ambiagram tattoos, the ones designed in a typeface that lets the word be read the same upside-down as it is when viewed rightside-up. People have gotten tattoos containing loved ones' names (very unique was the woman who got her blind lover's name tattooed in Braille on the top of the back of her neck), quotations from Shakespeare, the Bible, movies, songs (the story behind the 33 people who had the first 33 words of Holland's national anthem tattooed on them was a very interesting one, reflecting not only the diversity of the nation but also how much the Dutch love their country), popular quotations, works of literature, and other things which inspire them. One of my favorite word tattoos was the one containing the opening line of 'The Divine Comedy,' in the original Middle Italian, since I also find the opening lines of that long epic poem to be very beautiful, moving, and inspiring. The tattoos are also categorised into such divisons as love, self-love, self-expression, politics, religion, and personal beliefs.

Overall, this is a great small-sized coffeetable book full of great photography of a very unique subject. One doesn't need to have a tattoo or tattoos oneself to appreciate the photographs; I can't get a tattoo due to my religious beliefs, but I greatly admired all of the workpersonship and personal meaning that went into thinking up, designing, and executing these amazing tattoos, and even saw some I'd like to have myself if I were allowed to have a tattoo. I'd love for there to be a second volume, particularly because this one didn't include my own favoritest typefaces, Palatino and Bookman!

Acknowledging both the history of tattoos with letters and the ubiquity and social acceptability of tattoo art today, the brief but informative introduction to BODY TYPE sets forth the premise of the book: to showcase those who have chosen to tattoo messages in the form of western letters somewhere on their bodies.

The breadth of work represented here is astounding, and smartly edited. Way beyond "MOM" in a scrolled banner, the viewer is shown not only letterforms tattooed for the sake of their own beauty, sometimes incorporating body parts (eg a nipple) for punctuation; but also letterforms composing words of great meaning to the tattooed. The most moving example of the latter is the subject who tattooed the word "forgiveness" over the word "hatred" he had scarred into his arm years earlier. The hatred and later forgiveness refer to his mother who had committed suicide.

The content ranges from art, like the writer Shelley Jackson's "Skin" project, to political statements such as the Dutch group of 33 individuals tattooed with lyrics from the National Anthem. The tattoos were done in protest to the Queen's decree that the anthem be played only in the presence of a member of the royal family. She later acquiesced.

But there are plenty of lighter moments to look at, with less expected nods to pop culture: a Ouija board, Krispy Kreme logos, and even a series of ambiagrams (words that read the same forwards and upright as well as upside-down and backwards), popularized by The da Vinci Code's Tom Brown in Angels and Demons.

Each tattoo photographed is captioned with a brief, pithy statement from the person sporting the tattoo. Even in cases where the choice of tattoo may seem obvious, the quote adds further insight.

BODY TYPE is unobtrusively designed and well produced. It is a carefully curated and moving photo essay--exploring how meaningful letterforms are to people, even those not in the business of graphic design and typography. Not just a design book, unexpectedly, it is a testament to the power of the written word, made even more powerful written on the body.

I had absolutely no interest in tatoos, but am interested in design. When I saw this book, I was intrigued by the use of type in such unusual contexts. The author's remarkable eye, insight, and ability to explain nuance gave me an entirely new perspective on tatoo, typography, and design. This is a coffee table book destined to be well-worn very soon.

What motivates people to use their bodies as a medium for self-expression? In an elegantly designed and beautifully produced book, BODY TYPE showcases over 300 typographic tattoos and reveals the meaning behind the message. Whether your primary interest is tattoos or typography, this book is an intimate look at the juxtaposition of both.

an inspiring and artful documentation of an interesting new movement in tattooing and design. i think this book will serve to expand thinking with regard to possibilities within tattoo design, thereby helping to propel the art form forward--a valuable service in a field in which innovative design should be more common.

the book will be of particular interest to graphic designers, typographers and tattoo aficionados; and it works well both as a coffee table skimmer and a more serious study.

would love to see a follow-up volume, perhaps with a directory of tattooists who specialize in typographic tattoos.

Ina Saltz, Body Type: Intimate Messages Etched in Flesh (Abrams Image, 2006)

The idea of an all-text tattoo is brilliant. I can't believe I never thought of it. A lot of people, however, have, and Ina Saltz has made a project out of documenting these tattoos. The result (at least, up till now) is Body Type, a fine book of photography depicting these tattoos, with the expected short captions containing explanations by the owners of the tattoos about their reasons for getting them. (These are, at times, unintentionally hilarious.)

As enamored as I am of the idea behind the book, I'm not as much so where some of the actual photographs are concerned. Many of them are nicely done, but there are a few that just don't work; too dark, too light, too washed out, too something, depending on the photograph. Not a good thing in a book of photography, one thinks. Still, there are enough good photographs here depicting such an excellent idea that it's still worth your time. *** ½

This book is fabulous for all the reasons Ina outlines in her introduction. I was not prepared for it to be both philosophical and intimate. I love it. It is inspirational. And I abhor tattoos.

BODY TYPE is that rare "coffee table" book where you savor each word and find yourself riveted by every image. I have never entertained the notion of getting a tattoo, which makes the author's analysis and exquisite presentation all the more interesting. I urge anyone who cares about contemporary self-expression and the written word to buy this book and take a journey to explore this fascinating and growing niche within our culture.

BODY TYPE is about the fine art of Tattoo. Ina Saltz did an excellent job of researching and editing thought provoking imagery which goes beyond the stereotypes of the flaming skull, the heart and dagger and the crown of thorns. I look forward to Volume 2!

Discover the word made flesh in this provocative compendium of typographic skin displays. A must for the library of all those interested in body and graphic art.