Chief Ueg

Tattoo Drawing

Ignacio Tahach

Ocean tattoo motifs; turtles, fish hooks and dolphins, can be found throughout Micronesia. In the past, every tattoo had deep spiritual and social meaning, they defined one's island home, life and group identifier. In some island cultures, the tattoo designated persons wealth or caste. But in every case, the individuals tattoo defined that person. Today many residents prefer to use traditional images as inspiration. But also expanding on them to create a unique image. A fusion of traditional motifs and contemporary identity. Many residents have gotten "island" tattoos and may not even know the traditional meaning of the design

From Solomon Island of Renelle Custom thigh tattoo

Dolphin Design Men have the design with the head up and tail down. Women have it going down or tails up and head down. The amount of dolphin design on both men and women depends on how many the person desires. Usually, it also depend on the size of each individuals’ legs. Men or women with big legs seem to have more dolphins than those with small legs, otherwise, it’s really the desire of the person getting the tattoo. Women usually have them on the inside of each leg, and in or out side on the thighs. Men usually have them on the outside of the legs and can also be on the inside as well. *Thank you to Luke Holoi for the above information. (I'm still trying to design our family tattoo)

The Tattoo Instrument The "teeth" are shaped from bone or shell. Ink is applied by the "beak" of the bird shaped hammer. The hammer is then used to drive the ink under the skin by striking the back of the sharpened instrument.

Tattooing Instrument

Resources:
www.cityguide.guampdn.com, www.yapartstudioandgallery, www.ryanphotographics.com, www.tattoo.dk, www.rgfa.com

Books:

Spennemann, Dirk R. 1992 "Marshallese tattoos"