Michael McCabe: Tattoos Of Indochina - Magic, Devotion & Protection
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Michael McCabe has so far (November 2003) published three
rather good tattoo books: "New York City Tattoo - Oral Histo-
ry Of An Urban Art", "Tattooing NYC - Style & Continuity In A
Changing Art Form", and - leaving his home turf for a trip to
Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos - "Tattoos Of Indochina".
The latter is, as far as I know, the only publication in English
that covers the subject of the South East Asian tattoo cultu-
re of Buddhist protection and good luck charm tattoos, as
well as black magic tattooing, and bits of the present day
scene.
Since I have spent considerable time in Thailand myself, I do
not agree with some of the conclusions McCabe comes to. I
feel that part of them reflect that he was most likely over-
whelmed by his trip. As much as he sees the spiritual aspect
of the Buddhist tattooing there, I often see mainly supersti-
tion and fear.
I also wish he had had more time to give us an in-depth pic-
ture of the non-religious tattooing scene in South East Asia
today. Legendary Bangkok tattooer Jimmy Wong, who ap-
pears in the publication reviewed, still is an icon here, but
even though the scene is still at a rather early stage of de-
velopment, it has taken big steps since Jimmy's golden days
back in the 1970s.
Still, I can definitely recommend this book for the drawings
and the photographs alone. You will see refreshing work
that is very different to both Western and Japanese tat-
tooing. Maybe the next "big thing"?
If you are interested in sacred Thai Buddhist designs, I re-
commend you order a copy of "Tattooed Charms Sawatdee"
by Diane Umemoto & John Listopad - available from the
Shop.
English
Size: 8,5" x 11"
160 pages
330+ colour photos
Paperback
Published by
Schiffer Publishing
in 2002
--> Umemoto &
Listopad
"Tattooed
Charms
Sawatdee"
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