Mark of a man

From ancient tribal symbols of status to today's colourful UV ink work, tattoos just don't seem to go out of fashion

The ritual of decorating the body with art goes back thousands of years. According to the Australian Museum Online, tattooing is one of the oldest forms of art, dating back more than 5,000 years.

The practice takes on different meanings in different cultures. The Maoris used Ta Moko (tattoos on various body parts according to gender) to document a person's achievements and status within a tribe. Among the Inuit tribes of North America, women's chins were tattooed to indicate marital status. According to 16th-century accounts from Mexico and Central America, tattoos were a sign of courage.

Today, anything goes as people make their claim to individuality. For some, tattoos are a serious art where the body becomes a canvas, and enthusiasm can cross to fanaticism. Devotees in Japan, for example, have been known to have their whole bodies tattooed by a famous artist and, when they die, sections of their skin are framed much like any other piece of art might be. For others, it is a form of self-expression and a connection between people and fashion.

For the tattoo artist, every creation is a work of art. Shanghainese artist John Long, who has been practising for 10 years, learnt his trade from relatives in Taiwan and fine-tuned his skills under the watchful eyes of well-known Japanese artists.

His portfolio ranges from the familiar rose and gecko to intricate designs of Chairman Mao, the Great Wall of China wrapped around a leg, and a phoenix across a back.