PHOTOS: Book Looks At The Tattoos Of A Tribe Of Former Headhunters : Goats and Soda The tattoos were once a sign that a man in India's Konyak clan was a headhunter. A new book tells their story.
Chingham Chatrahpa, 75, shows off his facial and neck tattoos. A face tattoo would be etched after a man's first headhunting expedition, usually at the age of 18-to-25 years. Only a warrior who decapitated an enemy could get a neck tattoo. Peter Bos hide caption
Chingham Chatrahpa, 75, shows off his facial and neck tattoos. A face tattoo would be etched after a man's first headhunting expedition, usually at the age of 18-to-25 years. Only a warrior who decapitated an enemy could get a neck tattoo.
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When Phejin Konyak was a girl, she'd sit on her grandfather's lap in front of a roaring fireplace, with a pot of black tea simmering. He'd tell her folk tales. She was entranced by the stories — but even more by the jet black tattoos that curved over his eyes, nose, upper lip and chin. His neck, chest and body were filled with geometrical shapes and patterns.
When she went to boarding school at age 4, she began to realize that her grandfather's tattooed body – and indeed, the tattooed bodies of his fellow tribesmen – were quite extraordinary.
"All sorts of tribesmen would pass by our home or halt here for the night. All of them were elaborately decorated with tattoos. I always believed that tattooed bodies were the norm, " she says.
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(Roli books), documenting the tattooing traditions and the headhunting rituals of her ancestors. She collaborated with photographer Peter Bos to explore the changing ways of life and culture of this warrior clan.
Fiercely individualistic, they once believed in settling disputes by headhunting — decapitating their enemies. They also hunted the heads of animals — cows, wild boars and monkeys.
"I don't deny that change is good, especially when it ushers in education, but in the case of the Konyaks it was too much, too soon, " says Phejin. When she visited the National Museum of Kolkata in August 2014, she realized how much of India's rich cultural history was on display — and how there was barely any information about her own people. One reason, she says, is that people have been afraid to go into the territory of these fearsome warriors. "It struck me that even within India, the Konyak identity wasn't as well-known, " says Phejin. "I knew our voices needed to be heard."
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And that's where the tattoos came in. A warrior who decapitated an enemy would be decorated with a prized neck tattoo. If he were only part of a larger hunting group and didn't actually cut the head of his prey, he would be given a facial tattoo. Rattan palm cane needles were bound into "tattoo combs" to etch the design, using the sap from the kong tree for the dark ink.
In addition to the headhunting-related tattoos for men, the patterns were indicative of their clan and represented bravery, status and achievement. "For women and girls, tattoos marked a transition in their lives from one phase to the next, " adds Phejin. Women also had special tattoos signifying the achievements of male members of their family.
Today, the younger generation dresses in traditional clothes during festivals, but they paint their faces instead of undergoing the painful process of tattooing.
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In March 2015, Phejin met Peter Bos, a 46-year-old Netherlands-based portrait photographer. She asked him to help with her book, he readily agreed. They both invested from their personal funds to cover their research.
"It was an intriguing project, " says Bos. "I was always painfully aware that I could be the last to document the Konyaks.
"I shot a picture of an old frail man who was standing outside his bamboo hut, with a bag of monkey skulls. Back home I printed the photo out and sent it to his family. By the time they'd received it, he had passed away."
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Phejin and Bos had to contend with leech-infested forests and pouring rain to reach subjects in remote villages. In April that year, they set out to photograph a warrior with a neck tattoo. (Though headhunting was banned in 1935, it persisted until the '70s.)
Seventy-five-year-old Chingham Chatrahpa lived in Chen Loishu village in a remote part of Mon district. "Our pick-up truck couldn't go on because of the bad roads and heavy rain. We hired a four-wheel drive that took us a bit further, but we had to cover the rest of the five miles on foot, " says Bos.
Chatrahpa refused to allow them to photograph him at first. "Thankfully, we were able to convince him, " says Bos — partly because a Konyak woman was behind the project. Their photo of him is at the top of this post.
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In some of the photos in the book, it is evident how the changing times have affected the Konyaks. There is a picture of an old warrior posing with his grandchild, holding him close just outside their long house. The child is dressed in western clothes. The contrast, Bos says, caught his eye immediately.
Wanglei Wangshu, 79, with his grandson. His face tattoo indicates that he has participated in a headhunting expedition. But he doesn't have the neck tattoo that's a sign that he decapitated someone. Peter Bos hide caption
Another startling image is that of 82-year old Pennga of Hunphoi village. His chest tattoos were a stark contrast to his western clothing. "He wore old gym pants, a beret cap on his head and dark glasses, " says Bos. "He posed for me with such confidence."The art of body tattoo designs and decorating bodies with tattoos is not a modern trend! It dates back to prehistoric times when it was a common practice to etch the figurines of bulls and other objects on bodies. Gradually, it has become a ritual in many cultures to get body tattoos inked as a sign of respect and punishment!
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The original tattoos were made with plant-based inks using metal tools, which gave excruciating pain to the wearer. With the advent of modern technology, the intense labour process got simplified and is not as disturbing as it was. From mythical animals to surreal art, tattoos have evolved to cater to the needs of the new generation.
Body art tattoos give us an idea about the standard and ideology of a person. The best body tattoo designs for men and women with pictures have been enlisted in the following paragraphs.
Are you looking for body art tattoo designs for women? Here is a brilliant design with which one can make a woman’s body look even more alluring. Here, almost the whole body has been tattooed with beautiful designs. Hipster girls are often spotted flaunting such tattoo designs. If you think this tattoo might be too much for you, you’re in the wrong place. True tattoo lovers will love this idea of tattooing the body with permanent ink and want to get it done on their bodies as soon as possible.
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In today’s world, we can see several below 18 tattoo lovers. People who have just reached the age of 18 and are freshmen in the field of adults are often seen to sport body art tattoos which either cover the whole arms or the whole back, legs, etc. Here, the male model in the picture is flaunting an attractive body art tattoo design with a beautiful meaning attached to it. The use of Greek heroes and mythological aspects makes it one of the best body tattoos for men.
Since women love tattooing their back, we have a fantastic tattoo intended only for the back. This best body tattoo design looks a bit Japanese and exhibits incomparable beauty. It looks as if the tattoo artist is tattooing the design of a bird on her body. This body art tattoo is one of a kind. Those tattoo lovers who are mad about art and culture will significantly admire this tattoo. This tattoo will also be suitable for those who respect the feeling of ink on their bodies.
Those who want to like themselves a traditional look should choose a tribal body art tattoo. It looks fine, ethnic and very appealing on the skin. This tribal body tattoo for men depicts warrior-like qualities common in tribes. By choosing the right pattern, you can also declare your social status and give yourself an artistic way of expressing your belief system.
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Star Body Tattoos look very pretty and attractive on a feminine body. A combination of different patterns and colourful stars is guaranteed to look marvellous on the skin. This is one of the most suitable body tattoos for women. The use of celebrities and flowers depicts one’s love for nature in a creative way. It is also in remembrance of a loved one who passed away.
Check out this lovely Angel body tattoo image! Angel Body Tattoos art is very special and always seen among females. These fantastic body tattoos appeal to them a lot and help them reflect on their
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