Apo Whang-Od, a mambabatok (traditional tattoo artist), has been invited as the latest cover star for their issue for Vogue Philippines. The 106-year-old woman is from the Philippines and specializes in inking people using a sharp bamboo stick and charcoal soot. She is believed to be the last and oldest artist of her kind in the country.
Whang-Od imprinted symbols of her tribe, the Kalinga tribe on thousands of people who traveled to Buscalan to see her. She began tattooing headhunters and indigenous people when she was just 15 years old. “I’m the only one left alive that’s still giving tattoos. But I’m not afraid that the tradition will end because (I’m training) the next tattoo masters,” she told CNN in 2017. “The tradition will continue as long as people keep coming to get tattoos. As long as I can see well, I will keep giving tattoos. I’ll stop once my vision gets blurry.”
The traditional tattoo artist is now training her grandnieces, Elyang Wigan and Grace Palicas, her unique art as it can only be passed down to blood relatives. Learn more about Apo Whang-Od here.
Image credit: Vogue Philippines