Beneath the Skin
Tattoo history and culture are put firmly under the microscope in Beneath The Skin, debunking old myths on body art
Relatively new on the indie podcast scene, Beneath The Skin is created and hosted by Dr Matt Lodder, an art historian and museum curator, and Thomas O’Mahony, a keen tattoo collector. Steadfast in their belief that ‘tattoos are not just for sailors’, the two enthusiasts set out to explore history through society’s relationship with body art. Featuring interviews with legendary specialists and studies of archival works, they investigate culture’s complex, and often political history of putting ink on our bodies. Going further than skin deep, it might strike the listener as unusual that the podcast is not set up to defend tattooing as a legitimate art form; the hosts are not there to debate value claims.
Lodder and O’Mahony hope their podcast helps reveal that tattoos are ‘a lot older, a lot more complex, and a lot more common than people think’. One myth that the podcast debunks early on in its run is the idea that tattoos are most often tied to a specific time, place and society. By delving into an archive of older tattoo traditions, the duo explore cultural contexts around it.
As an example, this year they undertook a four-part deep dive into Japan’s tattoo history, starting off with an examination of the indigenous people of Ainu, whose unique tattoo tradition has been almost wiped out; that run of episodes ended with the birth of the Yakuza and Japanese tattoo art in traditional culture. On another recent episode, they explored the work of Lyle Tuttle, a famed American artist who worked on celebrities such as Janis Joplin, Cher and Paul Stanley.
Naturally, both hosts are tattooed themselves, although their first forays into being inked could not be more distinct. While Lodder sought out American artist Jack Mosher at a convention for a modest tattoo of three stars, O’Mahony opted for a giant image from the anime series Neon Genesis Evangelion. This dichotomy between the hosts makes this podcast such an intriguing listen. Although their angles and approaches to analysing the art of tattooing are unique, their shared enthusiasm for the medium is ultimately compelling. After tuning in to the podcast, you may well find yourself following Beneath The Skin on social media for snippets of tattoo history and profiles on leading tattoo artists.