Tattoos: Ancient Traditions, Secret Symbols and Modern Trends

Illustrated with stunning full color photography, this book presents a rich gallery of contemporary tattoo pieces, featuring every style from old school and Japanese to biomechanic and horror, accompanied by an engaging commentary on this fascinating form of self expression and the traditions and symbols that govern it.  As she charts its remarkable story, author Doralba Picerno showcases some of the most daring and exquisite pieces of art ever created on the human body.

Tattooing is no modern, new-fangled trend: tattooing has been around for millennia. Indeed, it is one of the oldest forms of body decoration and visibile communication. We have seen evidence of permanent body markings from hieroglyphics found on mummies from the Egyptian and Neolithic eras.

Illustrated with stunning full color photography, this book presents a rich gallery of contemporary tattoo pieces

London based journalist and acclaimed photographer Doralba Picerno has immersed herself in a long term project to capture the development of contemporary skin illustration.  A regular contributor to Total Tattoo magazine and several other tattoo publications, Picerno's dedication to the alterative scene gives her a unique understanding of the world of body modification.  This is Picerno's third book; her first two were striking portrait collections entitled Piercing and Girls.