Bulgaria, North Macedonia
Tattoos in Roma Communities of Macedonia
June 2006
In 2006, Amanda Fornal documented tattoos worn by Roma participants during fieldwork in Macedonia, now North Macedonia. The designs include names and inscriptions, Christian crosses, stylized female figures, animals, buildings, and other personal imagery. They range from small, lightly drawn marks to larger compositions covering the chest, shoulder, back, or forearm.
The archive records tattoos as individual forms of body art and self-presentation. The specific meaning of any design should be attributed only when supported by the wearer’s own explanation. Together, the portraits preserve a visual record of personal expression within the Roma communities documented in 2006.
