INFO

Client:

Staffordshire University

Tattoos may be more than simply a piece of art. They have the ability to weave storytelling, culture, and spiritual teachings together.

For my final semester of Graphic Design at university, I wanted to create an exhibit at the V&A to increase awareness of particular tattoo designs. During my study, I came up with the idea of making posters based on Sailor Jerry’s drawings and a tattoo concept that originated in China and Japan.

In the 1920s, Sailor Jerry, also known as Norman Keith Collins, created tattoos based on the interpretation of thousands of years of rituals and symbolism by an American serviceman.

Meanwhile, the complicated history of tattoos in Japan and China goes well beyond the yakuza and is rich with tales and legends.