Matt Lodder - Making a Splash

This week I am exploring maritime tattoos as art history. My guest is Dr Matt Lodder, an art historian and curator who specialises in the history of western tattooing from the 17th century to the present day. He is Senior Lecturer in Art History and Theory, and Director of American Studies at the University of Essex, and his latest major exhibition, ‘British Tattoo Art Revealed’ began at the National Maritime Museum Falmouth in March 2017 and toured through to 2021.

His book - a history told through tattooing, provisionally titled ‘Indelible’ - will be published by William Collins in 2022. You can find Matt on Twitter and Instagram. 

Tune in as we discuss a whole host of interesting areas, from the symbolism of folk art and maritime crafts, to the real Sailor Jerry and why the recording and documenting of certain bodies has skewed our understanding of tattoo history. We also discuss swimming outdoors from Essex to Bondi, swimming with Elsa Schiaparelli in the 1920s and why women often drive tattoo stories in the media.

Mentioned in this week’s episode:

Find Matt and I exploring tattoos and fashion at the Needle on Skin online course with the National Maritime Museum

Matt’s exhibition British Tattoo Art Revealed is returning to Falmouth’s Maritime Museum later in 2021. 

The book, Queering the Subversive Stitch: Men and the Culture of Needlework by Joseph McBrinn is published by Bloomsbury

You can follow me @AmberButchart, #MakingASplashPod to find out more about future guests and episodes.

*Please be aware that cold water swimming can be dangerous. Read and follow the advice at the Outdoor Swimming Society if you are new to it*

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