Imagery of religion permeates our daily lives. Homes and cars, for example, are replete with religious iconography and it comes as no surprise that, considering the popularity of tattoos, bodies would also be marked with such imagery.

This all forms part of what is called the ‘religious experience’, explained anthropologist Mark Anthony Falzon.

Photo: Mario Galea

“This experience is very much about bodies. Religious emotions are felt by and through bodies and religious rituals usually involve bodily practices such as kneeling, touching the face to the ground and so on,” Prof. Falzon said.

“In the Christian context, stigmata are perhaps the paragon of that embodiment, even if they belong to an exclusive club,” he added.

He further mentioned the indigenous Warlpiri people of Australia, where women tattoo images of the (sacred) landscape and (sacred) animals.

“Those objects and their bodies become intertwined, indistinguishable almost,” he noted.

Prof. Falzon was speaking in the context of an exhibition of religious-themed tattoo photos titled Holy Ink, being held at the St Joseph Band Club premises in Ħamrun. 

Curated by the Kummissjoni Żgħażagħ Ġużeppini Ħamrun AD1985, the exhibition features the work of 13 tattoo artists on 15 models who were captured by five photographers.

Tattoos have become more mainstream in the last century, however, Prof. Falzon says there are still profound links to class and other social differences: “It’s not as if everyone is getting the same tattoos, in the same places, for the same reasons.”

The anthropologist believes religious tattoos used to be more common in the harbour area because of other variables at play, such as class and occupation. 

Tattoos represent the confluence of a large number of social and individual histories, emotions and tastes

Sailors, for example, were classically associated with tattoos, but tattoos of patron saints are fairly common anywhere in Malta. 

“That’s exactly what’s so fascinating about tattoos – they represent the confluence of a large number of social and individual histories, emotions and tastes,” he pointed out.

Prof. Falzon particularly likes the fact that the exhibition is being held in Ħamrun, a classically working-class town with strong links to the harbour area.

Photos: Left Marco Bilocca, Right Bellizzi Photo Studio

“As tattoos go mainstream and become ‘gentrified’, so to say, they risk being emptied of that part of their history which associates them with the urban working-class and maritime lives,” he said.

Holy Ink, which is supported by Logografix Signs and Barbara Woodworks, runs until June 9 at St Joseph Band Club (opposite St Cajetan parish church) in Ħamrun. It is open for viewing between 10am and 1pm and 5 and 8pm.

Photos: Left Marco Bilocca, Right Bellizzi Photo Studio

Tattoos have become more mainstream in the last century but there are still profound links to class and other social differences.