Western tattoos and tattoo artists have a long, complicated and often mysterious history. It is a past that is made even more complex by stigmatisation, colonialism and classism.

Join tattoo artist researcher and historian Allison Hawn as she delves into this tangled history, providing information that helps make sense of the reasons that Western society, from past to present, has oftentimes labelled tattoos, tattoo artists and people who adorn themselves with body art as deviant.

Allison will also delve into the ways that embracing tattoo artists and their art can help us democratise the world of ‘fine art’, and make all art more approachable and accessible to everyone.

From Ötzi the Iceman, to Norman ‘Sailor Jerry’ Collins, to modern tattoo shops, learn about tattoo artistry’s colourful past and discover its bold future.

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This event is hosted live on Zoom Webinar. You’ll receive further instructions and a link to join a couple of days before the event takes place and a reminder an hour before. During the event, you can ask questions via a Q&A function but audience cameras and microphones will remain muted throughout.

Answers to frequently asked questions, plus tips on making the most of your Festival experience can be found on the Festival website.

Please note that our online talks provide automated captioning that may not be 100% accurate and may vary in quality.

Please ensure you use the correct email address as this is where your ticket will be sent. If you do not provide the correct address, you will not receive the acknowledgement email or ticket.