Signatures of the Soul - Tattooing Today
- Documentary
- Pasifika
- Arts/Culture
Tattooing — "the world's oldest skin game" — is the subject of this iconic documentary. Writer/director Geoff Steven scored a major coup by signing Easy Rider legend Peter Fonda as his presenter. Travelling to Aotearoa, Samoa, Japan and the United States, the doco traces key developments in tattooing, including its importance in the Pacific, prison-inspired styles, and the influence of 1960s counterculture. Legendary tattooists feature (including Americans Ed Hardy and Jack Rudy), while the closing credits parade some eye-opening full body tattoos. Steven writes about making his tattooing documentaries here.

Guardian obituary for actor Peter Fonda, April 2019
Article on Japanese yakuza tattoos, TattMag website, March 2021
Article on Japanese tatttoist Mitsuaki Ohwada, Tattoo Magic website
Website for late tattooist Ed Hardy
Artwork by Los Angeles tattoo artist Bob Roberts
Interview with tribal tattoo artist Leo Zulueta, Michigan Live, February 2017
Key Cast & Crew
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