In Mexico, prejudice fades around tattoos

SUMMARY

In Mexico, tattoos have evolved from stigmatized symbols of gangs, violence and poverty to an art form, a transformation not unlike what has taken place in much of the rest of the world.

By APMay 24, 2019 11:05:58 AM IST (Published)

Tattoo artist Lalo Calva inks a tattoo on client Adrian Alonso Rodriguez, a journalist, announcer and dubbing artist, at the Corona Tattoo parlour in Mexico City. Not only inks and techniques have changed in Mexico over the years, but tattoos themselves have evolved from stigmatized symbols of gangs, violence and poverty to an art form. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)

Ariel Guzmán, also known as tattoo artist Fakundo, performs a split tongue body modification on a client at the Corona Tattoo parlour in Mexico City. Guzman is an expert at splitting tongues, piercings and other forms of body modification. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)

Lalo Aguayo tattoos an image of Clint Eastwood from the Good the Bad and Ugly movie by Sergio Leone, at the Corona Tattoo parlour in Mexico City. Aguayo, now 35, a public relations specialist and muralist, said a friend convinced him to turn some of his drawings into tattoos. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)

Tattoo artists Lalo Calva and Marco Arana work on a tattoo that will be inked on the back of Gabriela Irigoyen Aguilar, at the Corona Tattoo parlour in Mexico City. Irigoyen Aguilar already has several tattoos in remembrance of her deceased mother. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)

Tattoo artists Lalo Aguayo, left, Lalo Calva, centre, and Emanuel Arana, work on clients Laura Reyes, Adrian Alonso Rodriguez and Jonathan Brannan, at the Corona Tattoo parlour in Mexico City. The buzzing of needles mixes with rock music and the chatter of clients, many of whom lie in awkward positions as they have designs permanently etched onto their bodies. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)

Gabriela Irigoyen Aguilar shows the sketch of the tattoo of a traditional Japanese mask she plans to have inked on her back at the Corona Tattoo parlour in Mexico City. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)

Liz Ruiz has the tattoo of a tiger inked on her arm at the Corona Tattoo parlour in Mexico City. "Every animal has a meaning but when you find the most beautiful animal in the world, his beauty, strength, royalty and freedom, you will understand the significance behind the tiger tattoo," Ruiz said. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)

Tattoo artist known as Enrique inks the image of the train known as "La Bestia" on the arm of a migrant from El Salvador, in Mexico City. The migrant wanted to memorialize one of his many trips on the train that took him from the Mexico – Guatemala border all the way north. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)

Tattoo artist Ricardo Medina shows his tattoos of Brazilian soccer star Ronaldinho, at a tattoo parlour in Mexico City. Like most tattoo artists, Medina inks his own skin. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)

Tattoo artist Lalo Aguayo cleans a tattoo of a hibiscus flower on the leg of Laura Reyes, a dance student, at the Corona Tattoo parlour in Mexico City. “It hurts a lot but it’s worth it,” she said. “For me, having a tattoo is like taking on a painting and carrying it everywhere. It’s art.” (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)