Apo Whang-Od featured in Toronto art exhibit

Filipino pride shines anew as the legendary tattoo artist Whang-Od is featured in Tattoos: Ritual. Identity. Obsession. Art. at the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto, Canada.

 

A LEGEND. Whang-Od is just one of the featured artists at the “Tattoos: Ritual. Identity. Obsession. Art.” exhibit. Photo by KayLeen B. Kwet.

 

At 98 years old, Whang-Od is known as the last mambabatok of her tribe in Kalinga. Her way of tattooing is pambabatok, is seen as a dying art by many in the Philippines. It involves the use of a mixture of charcoal and water tapped onto the skin by using a thorn from a pomelo tree and bamboo.

People have been clamoring for her recognition either as a National Artist or the National Living Treasures Award for her years of dedication to her tribe’s traditional way of tattooing. To date, her grand niece Grace is the only successor to this centuries-old technique.

Developed and produced by the Musée du Quai Branly in Paris, France, Tattoos: Ritual. Identity. Obsession. Art. showcases works of some of the most recognized tattoo artists in the world. From its significance in different cultures to reviving old traditions, Tattoos aims to show people how this art can be better understood.

The exhibit features the works of some of the world’s most respected tattoo artists, including Whang-Od.

Tattoos: Ritual. Identity. Obsession. Art. will be open until September 5, 2016 at the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

 

Source: Choose Philippines, Philstar.com, Royal Ontario Museum, Manila Bulletin, GMA News Online