Show Some Skin and Ink

By Brendan Dugan

Tattoo art from The Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender, and Reproduction's collection will be displayed alongside student-submitted photos of their tattoos in the Ephemeral Ink exhibit. The display will remain open from 9am to 5pm weekdays in Fisher Hall gallery from February 20 to March 23.

As the title of the exhibit suggests, tattoos are not as permanent as we may think. Though the ink may remain for a lifetime with only a few touch-ups, tattoos often represent a sentiment, belief, or a brief moment in one's life, which may change in the flux of time. This among other things sets tattoo art apart from traditional art.

"It was a pretty exciting experience for me to initiate the exhibit," said Jenny Pauckner, Assistant Professor of Art and Art History at Marian University. Pauckner contacted the Kinsey Institute for its extensive photo collection of tattoos, which has not been publicly exhibited, until now.

Over the summer of 2011, Pauckner visited the Kinsey Institute, located at Indiana University in Bloomington, to explore their archives.

Amy Tims, a graduate student interning at Kinsey, has dedicated her time and expertise to curating the exhibit, researching the culture and motives behind this thriving art.

Pauckner explained how tattoos act as cultural signifiers, group symbols of shared identity and culture, in the same way that piercings – and even breast implants – bear cultural significance and denote belonging or exclusion.

"Tattoos are reflections of personal identity," said Pauckner.

The prevalence and acceptance of tattoos has increased due to popular culture and the media. Outlets like Skin and Ink magazine and shows like L.A. Ink highlight the cultural and individual motivation, artistic technique and complexity of tattoo art.

According to a 2006 Pew Research Center survey of 1,500 adults, over one-third of Generation Next (individuals born between 1981 and 1988) have a tattoo. The report, "A Portrait of 'Generation Next,'" states that approximately one-half of this age group, who are now between 24 and 31 years old, either have a tattoo, have dyed hair, or have a body piercing (excluding ear lobe piercings).

Tattoo art still provokes complaints, however. Pauckner received complaints from students after sending an email notification for the exhibit to campus. Dr. Jamie Higgs, Assistant Professor of Art and Art History and Chair of Marian's Visual Art Department, had approved the email before it was sent.

Several students exchanged emails with Prof. Pauckner and Dr. Higgs specifically regarding the nature of Flash, the tattoo image used in the email, which was a sample for clients of the tattoo artist's work. Flash depicts a nude woman combatting a colorful, oversized cobra, and another woman emerging from a flower, cupping her bare breasts. It also depicts a battleship and an eagle bearing an American flag, appealing to sailors and navy servicemen.

"I was surprised by the amount of controversy it initially created," Pauckner shared.

One student, who asked to remain anonymous, expressed concern over the content of Flash.

"I believe the history of tattoos is indeed important, but I also believe it is not appropriate to exhibit something that contradicts the values of this Catholic university. Lewd tattoos are the worst example of this, and a lewd tattoo was chosen to promote this exhibit." said the student in email correspondence with this writer.

"For that and other reasons, I believe this exhibit is imprudent for this university." concluded the student.

Pauckner defended the exhibit, saying,

"The whole purpose of the exhibit is to give people insight...a different perspective. I think it's important to challenge our preconceptions of life, art, ideas. That's where learning takes place."

"We are in the business of generating young adults prepared for the future because they have been encouraged to think critically...All considerations related to art, be they acceptance or rejection of certain images due to faith, political, or social values, represent one path to realizing that goal," said Higgs in her clarifying email to campus.

Student submitted tattoos were displayed on a flatscreen during the reception February 24, from 3 to 6pm. Exhibit curator Amy Tims and Kinsey Institute Curator of Art, Artifacts, and Photographs Catherine Johnson-Roehr delivered presentations.