201. Lars Krutak – Tattoo Anthropologist / Photographer / Author – Breaking Bread

Today, we talk to the world’s only well-known “tattoo hunter”. Lars is an Anthropologist and has been always uniquely curious about the stories of and behind the ancient ways of tattooing around the world in indigenous tradition. Lars brings us through his fascination with tattoo culture he’s researched over the last 20 years with his extensive travels to remote communities in South East Asia, India, Africa and South America. We talk about the world famous centenarian tattoo artist Whang Od in the Philippines, meeting head hunting warriors, his “cabinet of curiosities” and the power of uncovering ancient truth through face to face human contact.

Chapters:

00:00:00 Introduction 00:01:45 Lars Krutak - The Tattoo Hunter 00:04:58 What is a Tattoo Hunter? 00:07:46 Why Tribes Are Losing the Ability to Tattoo 00:11:55 The Brutality of Tribal Tattoos and VIsiting Ultra Remote Locations 00:24:10 How Lars Became the Tattoo Hunter 00:30:12 How Tribal Tattoos Became a Tourist Destination 00:38:41 Being Alone in Remote Places 00:44:43 Why Tribal Tattooists Are Majority Female 00:51:43 How Lars Finances this "Hobby" 00:59:11 Where the Mind Goes Being Solo In Remote Locations 01:02:45 Where Lars Wants to Go But Can't

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Lars,

• Website: https://www.larskrutak.com/ - for Books, Video, Other Media
• New book, October 2024 - Tattoo Traditions of Asia: Ancient and Contemporary Expressions of Identity - https://uhpress.hawaii.edu/title/tattoo-traditions-of-asia-ancient-and-contemporary-expressions-of-identity/
• New Book, coming May 2025: Indigenous Tattoo Traditions: Humanity through Skin and Ink : https://press.princeton.edu/books/hardcover/9780691255392/indigenous-tattoo-traditions?srsltid=AfmBOorMRek_H5l6zqHLOCp_rjWFm_okfYcXJd8Sx-opEfiFvfPGPXRi
• YT Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeUYLhlV7WpVdK4_Rg92tfQ
• IG: @larskrutak/
• FB: @larskrutak
• Daniele Agostino Derossi Foundation: https://dadfound.org/