GEN Z AND Y2K

AN UNDERGROUND CONVERSATION ON MODERN TATTOOING

Y2K inspired backpiece by @spuskovik.tattoo - Ukrainain / On the Road

Y2K AESTHETIC

Tattoo trends of the late '90s / early '00s are back, sort of. The demographic is younger, the styles are more varied, and they've got a campier spirit now. But homages are everywhere: stylized flames, butterflies, animal print, and what I've been calling "sharp filigree" (formerly called "tribal", despite having nothing to do with Indigenous tattoo practice. Reframing it as a variant of filligree, being ornate and flowing with pan-European usage, feels more fitting to me. But I'm honestly open to any rebrand).

Over the past year, we've seen Y2K aesthetic pop up everywhere. Gen Z and younger millennials revive it in their fashion, interior design, and music. Cyclical styles are a thing, and nostalgia plays a role, but in tattooing, I think it's also about reclaiming stereotypes and a nihilistic catharsis.

Today, I'll share some examples of modern Y2K tattooing from around the world, and my thoughts on why it resonates.

Leopard print heart by @aleksymarcinow (left) Warsaw; Rose by @arseniybojinovtattoo (right) Bali

Y2K flash sheet by @keekee3.0 (left) NYC; Butterfly by @estelonthemoon.tattoo (right) Bordeaux FR

Sternum piece by @ruth_vandal (left) Barcelona; Flash sheet by @albunny_tattoo (right) Barcelona

GEN Z AND OPTIMISTIC NIHILISM

The modern take on Y2K embodies a playful sort of nihilism. Back then, people partied like it was 1999 and thought the world would end at midnight. There's a real "laughing into the void because nothing matters" vibe, wearing candy colors and waiting on the apocalypse. Gen Z gets it, born into climate change and existential crisis. Why not live hard and have fun now, because tomorrow isn't a guarantee?

Tattooing itself is part of that for some people, just getting chaotic and not sweating the reasons why. There's an attitude of, "it means nothing, that's the point." (There's a lot of overlap with Y2K and ignorant style or postmodern tattooing, but those movements deserve their own post.) Some flash sheets even directly talk about the end of the world, paired with cute Kawaii details or Lisa Frank hearts and stars.

At it's core, modern Y2K feels like an aggressive determination to enjoy life, despite the weight of the world.

Variety of death-themed pieces with kawaii embellishments by @tokipar - On the road

Butterfly breaking chains by @y2k_tattoo (left) Hong Kong; Heart by @shiratwig (right) Tel Aviv

Y2K Flash Sheet by @wholegrainmatzo - Michigan, USA

RECLAIMING THE LOWER BACK

Femmes in the late '90s loved lower back designs. But it didn't take long for classist and misogynist stigmas to form. People called them trashy, a sign of promiscuity, a permanent Scarlet Letter. But just as people are reclaiming the words “slut” and “whore” as proud self-descriptors, they're also reclaiming the lower back tattoo.

While some pieces are dark and heavy like before, a lot of the new ones are light, bubbly and fun. Hearts, sparkles and butterflies are everywhere. They're Britney-and-Barbiecore hyper feminine tattoos, which feels especially rebellious with that placement. 

Wings lower back piece by @lunatattoosya - Philadelphia PA USA

Heart and dagger lower backpiece by @gothic.angel.tattoo - Melbourne Australia

Butterfly backpiece by @tenebretattoo - Chicago IL USA

Y2K Flash Sheet by @luna__tattoos - Brighton UK

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That's a wrap for ISSUE 016. This is an unpaid and unsponsored labor of love, as it's always been. I welcome your feedback, corrections and contributions. If you'd like to buy me a coffee, PayPal or Zelle: tattrx@gmail.com

With love,
Morgan

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All image copyrights are retained by the artists. All text copyrights reserved by Tattrx, LLC.