UK Museums Launch Exhibit on “The History of Hidden Tattoos”

The British Museum opened a landmark exhibition titled Inked in Secret, showcasing ancient and modern tattoos once hidden due to social stigma. Items include 18th-century sailor tattoos, Victorian-era secret lovers’ initials, and even medical tattoos from World War II.
Historians highlight how tattoos once marked shame but are now celebrated as art and identity. Visitors can also try an interactive AR station to see what historic tattoos would look like on their own skin.