Thread: Anger over a 100-year-old tribal artist at a tattoo show

Excitement and fervour at a colourful tattoo show in the Philippines turned into outrage after a celebrated tribal artist's appearance was criticised for being "blatantly exploitive". But is it all so simple?


Legendary tattoo master Whang-Od was transported from her tribal village of Buscalan to the capital for the Manila FAME trade show, with the help of the Philippine Army and Air Force.


The centenarian, believed to be the country's oldest traditional tattoo artist, performed her ancient craft of hand-tapped Filipino tattoos at the weekend event.


Whang-Od hails from a remote mountain tribe in the hills of northern Kalinga province.


Her artistry has seen her credited with "single-handedly keeping an ancient tradition alive". Using just a few simple tools (thorns from a pomelo tree, bamboo sticks and coal), she has spent the past eight decades inking not only headhunting warriors and women of her tribe but a new wave of "tattoo tourists" like Carlo Mangoba, 34.

"My tattoo (of a serpent eagle) is a sign of honour and the mark of someone willing to make the difficult trip up north to meet the great master Whang-Od," he shared with BBC News.


"After all, she is already widely regarded as a great Filipina artist and icon."





With a focus on "celebrating the rich cultural heritage of the Philippines", organising director Clayton Tugonon said that the institution wanted to support her uniquely traditional art.


"She symbolises the pure talent of Filipinos," he said in a statement to the BBC, adding that her invitation was "sought through proper channels", which included village elders and indigenous committees.


Bearing in mind her health and age, a "dedicated medical team" certified that she was fit to travel. Ambulances were also placed on standby throughout the two-day event, Mr Tugonon added.

The issues at play are difficult. While organisers have insisted that all money will go to her tribe, many netizens felt having the famed tribal tattoo master work at the trade show was "a blatant act of exploitation".


In a photo that swiftly went viral on Facebook, Whang-Od was photographed sleeping at a panel conference at the event.


It drew tens of thousands of angry reactions from Filipinos on the site, who speculated that she was being ill treated and "exploited" for her craft.

"Whang Od is 100, a national treasure. And you made her go to Manila to tattoo 200 people for profit? This is sick and inhumane," said one netizen.


Medical care organised by the show was on hand should she need it, but many are also accusing the event of degrading a complex art.


"I've always wanted to get a tattoo from Whang Od but there was a part of me that said no. I hope Filipinos understand that this act distorts certain cultural norms and traditions," student RJ Barrete‏ said.

To tattoo artist Richard Tat, traditional tattoos like the ones perfected by Whang-Od take "a huge amount of time" and could prove tiring during a trade show.


"Traditional tattoos are done with different tools and they take impressive skills to learn and master. It sounds like she was exploited, from inking a few people to 200 to 300 in one day."

But photojournalist Miguel Guzman was at the event to capture the excitement around the celebrated centenarian and he says it was not her lack of energy that was a concern.


"It was her first time in Manila. There were a lot of people who were excited to see her and to get tattoos from her and she was definitely happy. But I wouldn't say she was exploited. Organisers did take good care of her to ensure she was in good health," Mr Guzman explained.

"I saw her myself and I wouldn't say she was tired. The problem I felt going on was the lack of translation and communication. A lot of people around her were speaking in English and Tagalog and where she's from, she can't understand that, she would only know her local dialect," he added.


Many might argue that such shows are one way of ensuring the tradition gets the attention it deserves to ensure its survival as a core part of the Philippine national heritage.



But for purists the value of the craft remains its exclusivity, a celebration of why it is just so hard to get. Carlos Mangoba had this to say:


"I feel sad for those in Manila who got tattooed by her during the event instead of making pilgrimage to see Apo Whang-od in her home village like I did. They clearly missed out on a full experience from such a master.


"After all, she is already widely regarded as a great artist and icon even before this trade show. In this sense, I think the Manila tattoo show needed her more than she needed them."



Anger over a 100-year-old tribal artist at a tattoo show - BBC News

Originally Posted by misskit

To tattoo artist Richard Tat,

I have one of his tattoos, done in Singapore. He is the son of the (previously) well known "Johnny two thumb".

Which is why it is spelled " Fickwut ", presumably.

He was "all thumbs".....har, har.

Always thought you were a bit of an oik.

I don't believe that she is 100 yrs old.
77 - 84 is my estimate.

Originally Posted by Seekingasylum

Which is why it is spelled " Fickwut ", presumably.

He was "all thumbs".....har, har.

Always thought you were a bit of an oik.

Can you hear that sound, theGent? That's the sound of me not giving a flying fuck about what you think.

"... for purists the value of the craft remains its exclusivity, a celebration of why it is just so hard to get. Carlos Mangoba had this to say: "I feel sad for those in Manila who got tattooed by her during the event instead of making pilgrimage to see Apo Whang-od in her home village like I did. They clearly missed out on a full experience from such a master.
Seems more like snobbery, and the fact that he had to traipse all the way up a mountain to get a tattoo by her and then (probably) showed all his mates his awesome tattoo that is so difficult to get, but now loads of people got them easily in Manila, cheapening the value of his won tattoo.


"I think the Manila tattoo show needed her more than she needed them."
Perhaps, but she could have said no. She didn't.

Originally Posted by nidhogg

Can you hear that sound, theGent? That's the sound of me not giving a flying fuck about what you think.

Nonsense, if you truly had not given a fuck, flying or otherwise, you would not have acknowledged my post.

Poor old Nignog.

Originally Posted by Neverna

Seems more like snobbery, and the fact that he had to traipse all the way up a mountain to get a tattoo by her and then (probably) showed all his mates his awesome tattoo that is so difficult to get, but now loads of people got them easily in Manila, cheapening the value of his won tattoo.

Yes it does sound like it.

I had a Samoan "Taulima" or armband done many years ago before they became popular. A bit more vicious than this old woman's, I suspect, as the "tapping" is almost hammering. People used to die from getting the Samoan waistband. I was bruised from shoulder to wrist.
Yes, I mildly scoff at those that get the taulima in a parlour with the electric needle gun. Is that a form of snobbery too? Maybe not. I got a passage of rite, they got an adornment.

Fang Od is part of the last line of traditional Kalinga tattoo artists in the Philippines. It was assumed for a while that the now 93 year old Fang Od would be the last, but her granddaughter has taken up the art and the traditional continues. This type of authentic tribal tattooing was once done for head hunters and to beautify women, who would be able to take their tattoos with them in the after life



Whang Od is 92 years old and she is the last Kalinga tattoo maker (Philippines). According to specialists this practice is about a thousand years old and was used as a skin natural language transmitted from generation to generation.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57ozdNDqDKM

Originally Posted by Maanaam

Yes it does sound like it.

I had a Samoan "Taulima" or armband done many years ago before they became popular. A bit more vicious than this old woman's, I suspect, as the "tapping" is almost hammering. People used to die from getting the Samoan waistband. I was bruised from shoulder to wrist.
Yes, I mildly scoff at those that get the taulima in a parlour with the electric needle gun. Is that a form of snobbery too? Maybe not. I got a passage of rite, they got an adornment.

Post up that amazing tattoo.

Wang Od is famous among backpackers & young travellers, both here (in PI) and abroad. She's been featured in several travel/news sites like CNN & BBC. I first read abt her from a white foreigner/ blogger/ backpacker who traversed the mountains just to see her, interview her & get a tattoo from her.

A couple of Spanish backpackers that I hiked with last year (Mt. Pinatubo trek), after our trek, they rode a bus to Baguio. Then on to Kalinga on another bus. One of them wanted a tattoo from Wang Od. I didn't go with them, as I had work the next day & took a bus south to Manila instead. (Besides, I don't want a tattoo). But I would like to trek to Kalinga & Wang Od's village, just for the experience. One for the bucket list.

Re: Wang Od in Manila, it's her first time to go to a big city. I hope the organizers tske well care of her, tour her around, have an interpreter for her, etc. She wouldn't be able to speak Tagalog or English, as she speaks her dialect only.

Originally Posted by PeeCoffee

I don't believe that she is 100 yrs old.
77 - 84 is my estimate.

yes was thinking the same. fine front teeth too.

Originally Posted by Seekingasylum

if you truly had not given a fuck, flying or otherwise

Heh...Cheers, Seeking...

Here's a solution...It's great to give the old gal her due...So, set her up in a prime stall that caters to her like the queen she is...And then, like the true artist she is, she can leisurely do a set few works of art per day...

If money is a goal, hold a lottery to see who's lucky enough to be her canvas...

What a face that woman has...A work of art in itself...

I would be happy enough just to watch her draw...

Tattoos are for criminals, bargirls, silly youngsters and drunken sailors

Part of the mystique...

^^^^^^ As you wish.

Indeed, in primitive cultures it is significant for varying reasons but the current fad in the West among the stupid, the vain, the conceited or the merely vacuous is nothing but an affectation every bit as absurd as the wearing of a cod piece or peacock feathers. Previously such self-mutilation was limited to convicts, merchant seamen and forces personnel but now.....

I have heard you can get your sausage tattoo'd

welcome to jamaca mon , have a nice day