Tattoo/Art: Meaning, Medium and Market

Sinead Brophy
Trinity College Dublin
Department of History of Art and Architecture
2013
BA

Subject: Tattoo, Mixed Media
Country: Various
Period: 20th and 21st Century

10,000 words

This dissertation aims to evaluate tattoo’s place in the contemporary art world as a medium, subject-matter and marketable artwork. This is achieved by examining tattoo’s historical and cultural background, as well as its contemporary art context as informed by postmodern theory and its movement into the commercial art gallery. Tattoo can be considered an experience of the everyday in contemporary society; one that has elements of aesthetics, commodification, collaboration and certain social and cultural significance. This study will evaluate whether or not these theoretical similarities allow tattoo to fully enter the realm of contemporary art. Will tattoo always be a mark of ‘the other’ to be fully accepted by art establishments as a ‘legitimate bonafide fine art form?’

Irish Georgian Society

Education Theses Register

Tattoo/Art: Meaning, Medium and Market