Friday 18 May 2007

Bad Ass Script - Tattoo Fonts


What font choices do we have? What subliminal messages do they assist in conveying? Which font do we choose for what purpose?

We agonize over such things with microscopic attention to detail if the script is on paper, stone, plastic, the computer screen etc., so it makes complete sense to me to consider the same principles of font obsession when the script just happens to be on skin. Note to self: I wonder if there is a prison-freestyle font? Just wondering!

Body Type - Intimate Messages Etched in Flesh is a book, released in September 2006 by Ina Saltz.

Here's the back story courtesy of Tim Cole's InDesign Backchannel:

The genesis of Ina's project was a tattoo of the word "Happy" that she spotted on a young man on a cross-town bus. She recognized that the tattoo was done in Helvetica and then took note of the tight kerning. After mustering the courage to talk to the owner, she learned that he was a graphic designer. The more Ina explored the subject of typograhpy in tattoos, the more interesting it became.

Now that is a book I'd love to have on my coffee table or to read in the doctor's office waiting room. Art can take many forms!

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Hiya : )
Why is it that people (society in general) still pre-judge people who have body art. girls especially?
I'm a twenty six year old F, have got 9 tats, most of which can't be seen on my everyday travels. Five To Six during the summer are pretty much constantly on display. I don't work for notice and i also have a loving boyfriend Without Any TATTOOS .I get the impression that numerous people believe that tattooed people are blind, as we get stared at, even if we return a glance many people continue staring. When will society change?