From the beginning of time, tattoos have been circulating their way through different races and cultures of people. Each group defines and has new and beautiful meanings for their markings. In ancient Egypt, only women received tattoos. Each tattoo received represented different things in their culture, anything from social standing to fertility. Among the Romans and the Greeks, they used tattoos to show a group of people belonged in the same religious group. Like the Egyptians, these groups used tattoo markings for a purpose. In today’s generation, tattoos are on a widespread advancement. Almost everyone you see possesses at least one inked spot on their body. As a young person of today, I think tattoos are still being used for a purpose—they give a person a sense of originality, even expressions of art.

Recently, a new tattoo trend is the semicolon. This specific tattoo hold a powerful representation. It has become more than a punctuation mark—it has morphed into a symbol of pride for those who overcame depression, addiction, anxiety, self-injury and suicide. Not only does this hold meaning for the person who possesses it, but it shows bravery and self-determination to others for a past struggle. This tattoo's purpose is very self-expressive, but also worldly expressive—it shouts to the world an achievement.

Not only do tattoos allow a person to feel they have given themselves a new permanent expression, they have created a new and original piece of art on their skin. Tattoos have evolved to beautiful, colorful art. Different perspectives of art, and even different techniques can be used. Watercolor tattoos are a softer, almost more feminine tattoo. A new trendy tattoo is one made completely out of lines—this creates a minimalist view for the design. Cubism is from the early 20th century, yet tattoos are being created using this technique. Even with the hundreds of styles, techniques and even intentions of tattoos, they still hold strong purpose and meanings of expression and art in this generation.

Tattoos are more than permanent pictures on skin. They tell a story about the person's personal identity: how they see themselves and how they wish to be seen and viewed by the world. They hold so many obvious, but also secret evidence by the artist. They are a form of art, just like acrylic and watercolor painting. But unlike those forms, tattoos bring more people together. More are familiar with the stinging of getting a fresh tattoo than brush strokes of paint across a canvas. They tell a more obvious and powerful story. It could be because they are permanent pieces to the body. Or it could be because they are on display for the world, where a canvas can be hidden or turned over. Tattoos made it through centuries of art, norms and new trends. They are still around and thriving with purpose. Even while the intentions and motives of change with time, the art of tattoos will remain.