Tattoos are commonly used among criminals to show gang membership and record the wearer's personal history—such as his or her skills, specialties, accomplishments and convictions. They are also used as a means of personal expression. Certain designs have developed recognized coded meanings. The code systems can be quite complex and because of the nature of what they encode, the tattoo designs are not widely recognized.
American singer-songwriter and businesswoman Beyoncé, 43, looks like she means business as she promotes her whisky brand in the first decade of October 2024. (Photo by Instagram)
A man poses with his water buffalo during “Mekepung” traditional water buffalo race on July 28, 2013 in Jembrana, Bali, Indonesia. Meaning “to chase around”, Mekepung was originally designed as a fun game for peasants to spend their free time when the harvest time was ended, as they were waiting for the start of the planting season. (Photo by Putu Sayoga)
This handout photograph taken and released by Limex Images for Red Bull on February 6, 2019 shows France's Nicolas Ivanoff flying over the skyline prior to the first stage of the Red Bull Air Race World Championship in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Predrag Vuckovic/AFP Photo)
A guest dressed as a zombie attends the Middle East Film & Comic Con (MEFCC) in Gulf emirate of Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 11 April 2019. The event runs until 13 April 2019. (Photo by Ali Haider/EPA/EFE)
“Be prepared” is the motto of petite Doris Sherrell, vocalist and dancer with “Blackouts of 1942”. In the event of a bombing, the young lady had her social security number tattooed on one leg by artist Jack Julian, and address placed on the other limb for means of identification in Los Angeles, September 29, 1942. (Photo by AP Photo)
The villas of Marabe Al Dhafra in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates are home to approximately 2,000 people. Located in one of the hottest regions of the world, the record high temperature here is 49.2C° (120.6F°). (Photo by Benjamin Grant/Penguin Random House)