Mexican Chicano tattoos are a style characterized by incorporating traditional symbols and elements associated with the Chicano culture. As this style becomes increasingly popular, especially in North America, I’d like to introduce you to some designs and meanings behind these tattoos.
Who are the Chicanos?
Let’s start by defining what Chicanos are, since some people may not be familiar with the term. In informal language, Chicano is commonly used to refer to Latin Americans living in the United States, particularly those of Mexican origin. However, the term also applies to people born in the US or American citizens of Mexican descent. In some cases, “Chicano” and “Mexican-American” are used interchangeably.
Now, let’s move on to the tattoos, which is what we’re really interested in. Mexican Chicano tattoos are a specific style that features recognizable elements of these cultural groups, common phrases from their language, religious symbols, and other unique elements linked to gangs and crime.
These tattoos are often done in black and gray, reminiscent of the old-school style, or completely in black with minimal details or none at all (some realistic portraits are stunning). When it comes to phrases, names, and words, a cursive font is essential in this type of tattoo.
Mexican Chicano Tattoos and Their Meanings
Mexican Chicano tattoos, whether you like them or not, are undoubtedly rich in symbolism, identity, and personality. Chicanos themselves mention that the style of their tattoos is a form of non-verbal, artistic, and passionate communication.
Born in the poorest areas of the US, in border regions and among immigrants, this style is closely related to the illicit, the gangster figure, street reality, and the law of the jungle, where only the strongest survive.
Among the most recurring designs, we can find Christian and Latin faith symbols, such as the Sacred Heart of Jesus, praying hands, rosaries, virgins, and crucifixes, alluding to the idea of divine protection, religious belief, and salvation.
We also find roses, guns, hearts, clown faces, tears, cars, numbers, and many other things, each with a strong particular meaning, since in Mexican Chicano tattoos, nothing is coincidental, no motive is just for aesthetic value, but it tells a story, remembers the daily struggle, and reaffirms each person’s roots.
he Chicano Tattoo Style is deeply connected to the reality of the streets and the suburbs or even ghettos that were a daily reality for the most disadvantaged immigrant populations for a long time. Therefore, its imagery is related to Latin gangs and even to “prison tattoos”. Some of the most repeated motifs in Chicano tattoos can be:
- Religious symbols such as thorn hearts, portraits of Jesus Christ, la Santa Muerte, praying hands, rosaries, virgins, crucifixes… and also related to Mexican culture such as catrinas, flowers, and other symbols of the Day of the Dead.
- Symbols of their own gangs and related to the suburbs such as roses, guns, cars, money, clown faces, bandanas, female faces, tears…
All these motifs are depicted on the skin with a realistic or semi-realistic style, with a strong prevalence of blackwork and dark portraits. Traditional American-style Chicano tattoos are also very popular, with thick lines and solid colors.
The Chicano Tattoo
When you search for “Chicano art” on Google Images, the first results that appear are images of tattoos. The correlation between Chicano art and tattoos is largely due to contemporary Chicano visual artists, who reflect in their work on political issues, racism, and poverty, while strengthening the iconological power of this ethnic minority. For example, in Apareción (2018-20), Chicano artist Sergio Teran reimagines and challenges two stereotypes attributed to Chicanos.
The mask is an immediate reference to the jaguar warrior and professional wrestling, symbols of Mexican popular culture that, among other things, represent the search for identity and the immense pressure produced by sensitivity to two different symbolisms: Mexican and American. If the mask is the symbol of the Mexican’s fear of showing his fear, his distrust, and his intimacy (Paz [1950] 2015, 47), the second element that stands out in that image, the tattoo, is opposed to the reticence and hermeticism that Paz considers intrinsic to Mexican identity.
In fact, besides being the most recurring and visible element within the framework of the stereotypical representation of the Chicano, the tattoo represents a form of communication, a form of self-affirmation with which one seeks to perpetuate identity.
In Teran’s image, the tattoo comes to life and becomes, at the same time, subject and object of the creative act, so the work constitutes a metanarrative of art, a framework within which the tattoo represents the most physical, tangible side. The use of the body as a canvas has its roots in Body Art, in which the artist’s action is part of the work.
This type of art was theorized by Allan Kaprow (1958), but Marcel Duchamp is considered its precursor: in his Tonsure, the artist had his hair cut in the shape of a star, a symbol of intuition as a prerogative of genius (not by chance, the head is the place of transformations of thought).
If we consider these premises, that is, if we consider the tattoo as an epilogue and massification of Body Art, we can affirm that it has crossed the border and the territory of “non-art” to arrive at the territory of art. From an anthropological perspective, the artistic value of the tattoo is born from the fact that it is a powerful means of expression within the symbolic system to which it belongs. In fact, the tattoo shares the holistic character of art, that is, it cannot be understood in its entirety without knowing its context.
This conception allows us to glimpse the importance of this means of expression for Mexican Americans, an ethnic and social group that “is leaving behind barriers and revitalizing its traditions to creatively express its ethnic inspiration” (Gorodezky 1993, 20). The immense pressure imposed by a dominant culture, monoglossic and “other,” and the sensitivity to two different symbolisms, which are perceived as opposed, has engendered a need to reaffirm their Mexican identity, which Paz ([1950] 2015, 115) defines as “rupture and negation” as a search, a will to transcend a deeply rooted state of exile in historical consciousness.
Just as in Chicano Art “the discontent with the regime, with segregation, with mistreatment, with society, and with politics” is expressed (Gorodezky 1993, 86), the Chicano tattoo embodies (metaphorically and not) the recovery of identity in a very expressive, immediate, and even bold way.
About Author
- https://t.me/s/tattoogunmachine
- Hello everyone! My name is Jade Blunt, and I'm a passionate tattoo enthusiast. Let me share a bit about my life and my journey in the world of ink and skin.
Ever since I was a child, I've been drawn to art and creativity in all its forms. However, it was when I turned 18 that I discovered my true passion: tattoos. I remember my first tattoo, a small design on my wrist that marked the beginning of an adventure that would change my life forever.
As my love for tattoos grew, so did my desire to learn more about this fascinating art. I started researching, talking to talented tattoo artists, and immersing myself in the history and culture of tattoos. Every tattoo tells a story, and I wanted to be a part of that narrative.
Over time, I decided to share my passion with the world through my blog, "Tattoo Gun Machine." In this space, I strive to provide valuable information about tattoos, from tips for tattooed skin care to stories of innovative tattoo artists and inspiring designs. My goal is to educate and inspire those who share my love for tattoos, as well as to demystify some of the stigmas surrounding this art form.
My blog has become a corner of the web where the tattoo-loving community can connect, share ideas, and explore new trends. I've also had the privilege of interviewing some of the most talented tattoo artists in the world, who share their unique experiences and knowledge within my pages.
But my journey in the world of tattoos doesn't stop here. I'm always on the lookout for new inspiration and challenges. I dream of one day opening my own tattoo studio, where I can bring my own designs to life and continue contributing to this form of artistic expression.
So, if you share my passion for tattoos or are simply interested in learning more about this exciting world, I invite you to join me on my journey at "Tattoo Gun Machine." Together, we can explore the art, culture, and beauty of tattoos as we continue to ink our stories onto the canvas of life. I'll see you on my blog!
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