Many thanks to Daniel for publishing my Sacred Skin portraits. These photographs are part of an illustrated book titled Sacred Skin — Thailand’s Spirit Tattoos, published with a text by Tom Vater. During the course of my project, I was able to explore cultural paths through Thailand that are barely represented in mainstream discourse, yet play a hugely significant role in society as a whole.
My journey into the world of sacred tattoos, called sak yant in Thailand — began in 2006 in a temple outside of Bangkok. Once a year, a festival takes place at Wat Bang Phra to honor well known tattoo master Luang Phor Pen, the late abbot of the temple. Some 12,000 tattooed devotees gather on the temple grounds and provide a field day for photographers.
![Thailand's Spirit Tattoos | Aroon Thaewchatturat](http://the.me/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/aroon_thaewchatturat_sacred_thai_tatoos_1.jpg)
The current abbot at Wat Bang Phra agreed to support my project. Over time five sacred tattoo masters’ doors opened their doors and let me into their world. As soon as I managed to build a relationship with the masters, the wearers were happy to talk and pose for my camera.
Masters and devotees form an unbreakable bond that lasts a life time. Besides inking sacred prayers and images, the tattoo masters also provide spiritual and psychological guidance for their devotees. In their respective communities they take on the role of counselors. As the practice of sacred tattoo dates back many hundred years, the network of these tattoo masters stretches throughout the country: the support they give to society is enormous.
Once tattooed, the devotees live in a world of magic and the supernatural. Sak yant are said to protect from knife attacks, gun shots and road accidents. For the tattoos to retain their magic powers, the wearers must follow certain rules. The rules contain the five Buddhist precepts — don’t kill, don’t steal, don’t partake in sexual misconduct, don’t lie, and abstain from alcohol.
I tried to capture not just the devotees’ tattoos but who they were. My models were rather shy at first. Most of them were male and taking their clothes off for a female photographer was definitely a challenge for them. But after I had taken a few shots, their confidence increased and they conveyed a strong spirit.
My journey into the world of sak yant may end when I shoot my last photograph of sacred skin, but Thailand’s sacred tattoos continue to experience a huge resurgence and lend a voice to those who have little space to express themselves otherwise.
![Thailand's Spirit Tattoos | Aroon Thaewchatturat](http://the.me/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/aroon_thaewchatturat_sacred_thai_tatoos_2.jpg)
+++ You can order the illustrated book Sacred Skin — Thailand’s Spirit Tattoos from Amazon.
Aroon Thaewchatturat is a photojournalist based in Thailand. She has mostly worked in South and South East Asia since 2004 and is the co-author of four illustrated books.
Aroon won an Emmy for her production work for CBS News 60 Minutes on the 2004 Tsunami. Her photo features have appeared in magazines such as GEO, The Wall Street Journal, Maxim, FHM, Fortean Times, and inflight magazines, while many of her images have appeared in TIME, The Financial Times, Condé Nast, Lonely Planet etc. Aroon has also illustrated numerous travel guides for Moon Guides in the U.S. and Reise Know How in Germany.
For more on Aroon’s work visit her website and Facebook page.
![Thailand's Spirit Tattoos | Aroon Thaewchatturat](http://the.me/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/aroon_thaewchatturat_sacred_thai_tatoos_3.jpg)
![Thailand's Spirit Tattoos | Aroon Thaewchatturat](http://the.me/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/aroon_thaewchatturat_sacred_thai_tatoos_4.jpg)
![Thailand's Spirit Tattoos | Aroon Thaewchatturat](http://the.me/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/aroon_thaewchatturat_sacred_thai_tatoos_5.jpg)
![Thailand's Spirit Tattoos | Aroon Thaewchatturat](http://the.me/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/aroon_thaewchatturat_sacred_thai_tatoos_6.jpg)
![Thailand's Spirit Tattoos | Aroon Thaewchatturat](http://the.me/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/aroon_thaewchatturat_sacred_thai_tatoos_7.jpg)
![Thailand's Spirit Tattoos | Aroon Thaewchatturat](http://the.me/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/aroon_thaewchatturat_sacred_thai_tatoos_8.jpg)
![Thailand's Spirit Tattoos | Aroon Thaewchatturat](http://the.me/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/aroon_thaewchatturat_sacred_thai_tatoos_9.jpg)
![Thailand's Spirit Tattoos | Aroon Thaewchatturat](http://the.me/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/aroon_thaewchatturat_sacred_thai_tatoos_10.jpg)