Traditions flow through time — they improve yet reconnect to their origins. Consider noteworthy rituals and movements, such as summer barbecues, 4th of July fireworks shows, the revival of pop culture icons, and reclaiming yesterday’s fashion trends for modern-day styles. However, other customs are more deeply rooted, signifying a grip on heritage to preserve ancestral intentions.
In this issue, Inked explores global tattoo traditions that go beyond artistic taste — they are cultural symbols that can signify ancestry, maturing into adulthood, fertility, beauty, and community status. Notable Indigenous female tattoo artists such as Alaska’s Jody Potts-Joseph, New Zealand’s Julie Paama-Pengelly, and Apo Whang-Od, a 108-year-old tattoo artist from a tiny village in the Philippines, keep their community’s ancient practices alive, using time-honored tools and inking historical symbols of reverence.
Shapes shift, yet their impact remains, and a prime example is the Canadian rock band Three Days Grace. The band
