
Across countless generations, Indigenous women have used tattooing as a profound practice — to beautify, to heal, to empower, and to guide the body into the afterlife. These women gave rise to rich visual languages etched into human skin, expressing identity, layered histories, and cultural belonging. These traditions are not relics of the past; they are living legacies that continue to evolve and endure.
🎙️ In this richly illustrated presentation, anthropologist Dr. Lars Krutak draws on decades of fieldwork and documentary filmmaking to shine a light on the extraordinary contributions Indigenous women have made to the art and practice of tattooing. Despite these achievements remaining largely overlooked in both anthropological and art historical scholarship, Dr. Krutak's work brings their skin-marking legacy — spanning thousands of years — into well-deserved focus.
Paired with this talk is a powerful photo exhibition celebrating women's tattoo traditions across cultures and eras, including Amazigh, Kurd, Maori, Balkan, and Sàpmi traditions. Nearly 40 photographs and personal stories explore what tattoos mean to women — themes of freedom, identity, memory, resistance, and belonging.
Exhibition admission:
📸 Photo of Posen Mangyut by Lars Krutak
Södra vägen 54, 412 54 Göteborg
VägbeskrivningSödra vägen 54, 412 54 Göteborg
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