Having spent some time free-associating, I put my map to one side to "ferment". When I came back to it afresh, the aspect of the Ocean I kept coming back to were waves. There are so many emotive and exciting words associated with waves - crashing, undulating, pounding, lapping, rolling, foaming. Focussing on the idea of waves, I studied waves in their many forms, even looking at waveforms in sound, science and technology! However, I settled on ocean waves as offering the greatest scope for development.
As I wanted my piece to be more than a simple pictorial representation of waves, I researched the significance of the ocean, waves and water across different cultures and traditions, how wave imagery is used and it symbolic meanings to different societies.
American Indians
The symbolism of waves for ancient peoples across the globe, including the Zuni, Hopi and other American Indian tribes - wave symbols are used in weaving, art and historically in written communication. Symbols like those below are popular as bands, backgrounds and as patterns in their own right. Interestingly, they share similarities and usage with Greek and Roman wave symbology (below).
This garment in the textiles collection at the Manchester Museum incorporates sea imagery in the form of crabs and bands of waves. Dating to around AD1200-1470, it is believed to be a kilt-like garment, possibly for dancing, from the Chancay area on the coast of Peru.
That wave imagery remains popular can be seen in this traditional design of bowl, also from Peru, but from the 1980's. (Manchester Museum collection).
Ancient Greece and Rome
Wave imagery is also found extensively throughout the mediterranean.
This Greek kantharos dating to around AD1000 has broad bands of waves, whilst the greek gem from Tharros shows a warrior brandishing a spear as he emerges from (rides upon?) the waves. Other sea imagery is also present in the form of a conch shell and dolphin (which looks more like a shark but is most likely to be a dolphin).
This pottery fragment in the Manchester Museum collection also shows bands of waves in shades of beautiful blue glazes.
Dolphins and waves are also very popular as wall and home decoration in Ancient Greece, for example, this Minoan frieze from the palace of Knossos on Crete which dates back to 1800-1400BCE. Note not only the dolphins in the ocean but also the wave band to the lower left of the image.
Japan, China and Asia
Perhaps one of the most iconic pieces of wave imagery is the Great Wave off Kanagawa by Hokusai. This woodcut in the Japanese Ukiyo-e tradition is one of the Thirty Six Views of Mount Fuji series created in the 1820s-1830s. It has been reproduced many times and in many forms, including fabrics, prints, murals and even tattoos (see also below). Interestingly, the Great Wave was preceded by other waves by Hokusai in a similar vein. However, for me these waves do not capture the same dynamic energy, fluidity of motion and passion that can be both seen and felt in the later Great Wave.
Body Art - Tattoo Symbology
Waves and the ocean aren't just confined to history, nor to traditional artforms. Body art often incorporates waves and sea imagery both for pure decoration but also to symbolise a range of meanings.
Here's an interpretation of Hokusai's Great Wave as body art. One assumes that the accompanying wording marks a significant event in the life of the person who commissioned this beautiful tattoo.
Water tattoos can hold symbolic value to the wearer and they can symbolize a variety of different meanings. Many cultures, ancient and present, believe that water is associated and linked to the soul. They believe that water has the ability to cleanse the body, soul, and mind. Ancient cultures also believed belief that water had the ability to wash away evil and anything negative. In Christianity, the use of holy water to purify and cleanse may be reflected in tattoos to symbolise protection, healing an purity.
Water represents one of the four elements - earth, air, fire and water. In astrology, the water signs pisces, cancer and scorpio are often featured in body art. In Asian mythology, the water dragon is the ruler of weather and water and a symbol of power. Water is regarded as the feminine "yin" in Chinese philosophy.Water and waves are popular components of Samoan and Polynesian body art, doubtless a reflection of the importance the ocean has to these seafaring peoples.
