Skin Deep: a history of tattooing

Tattoos—indelible marks on the human body—are increasingly popular. Not long ago, these images were liberally adopted by sailors and war veterans as expressions of solidarity, patriotism, and romance. Now, they are a statement of fashion and identity throughout our society. Unregulated, this form of body art is hazardous, particularly in terms of skin and blood borne infectious diseases.

Skin Deep is not an exhibition about health promotion and the danger of tattoos. Instead, it considers the human cost and …