Video: “Sacred Skin” Tattoo Documentary

Although the practice of tattooing appears to many as an exercise in vanity, the art form dates back centuries and often holds added significance for a variety of cultures and peoples. Filmmakers Maellyn Macintosh and Andy Pinkney recently documented their trip around the world as they traveled to the likes of Amsterdam, Africa, India, Indonesia and South America to highlight the last traditional forms of the body modification and to uncover the ideas of healing, protection, identity, pain and spirituality that are embodied by the completed pieces. Previewed here, the Sacred Skin series will also feature segments on piercing, pain rituals, scarification, and more as Macintosh and Pinkey spotlight the essence of the traditions.