The best tattoo artist in the world is 108 years old. Her name is Whang-od, and she is a master of Filipino traditional tattoo art, known as “tatak.”
Tatak means to mark, or to engrave. And that is exactly what Whang-od does, like many other tattoo artists. Yet her process is vastly different from other artists. Her studio isn’t in a nice downtown area or a bustling street, it is in a remote village high in the mountains of the Philippines. You will not find machines in her workspace, or even typically manufactured needles and ink. Instead, Whang-od uses thorns, bamboo, and charcoal mixed with water to craft ornate designs on people’s skin.
The process is slow, and certainly not pain free. Thorns dipped in ink are tapped into a person’s skin using a wooden mallet, creating traditional designs. These creations often honor an individual’s strength of character, lineage, or accomplishments. Other times, they are meant to beautify or spiritually protect.
Tatak has grown increasingly popular, with social media and journalists praising the beauty of her work and encouraging people to make the trek into the mountains to get a tattoo done. In April 2023, Whang-od was featured on the cover of Vogue Phillipines, making her the oldest living person to be featured. She wore her tattoos with pride, and spoke about her work and what it means to her. This helped inspire people to visit her village, with the office of tourism reporting that over ten thousand people came to visit yearly.
According to Whang-od, her age will not stop her, as she is proud to carry on the traditions of her people and teach them to her family. She has stated, “Why not keep tattooing while I can see? I’ll only stop when I can no longer see, so I can continue to give people the mark of my home, Buscalan, and the mark of my people, Kalinga.”
Archaeological records of tatak date back approximately 4,000 years. Despite Spanish colonial attempts to erase the practice, Filipino artists continued to practice the art form. Laws have been passed, such as the Tatak Pinoy Act, to protect Filipino heritage. Whang-od’s fame is a powerful example of this. It has renewed interest in indigenous art, encouraging new artists to learn these traditions.
Today, visitors travel from across the globe to her village of Buscalan. They wait for a tattoo made with her simple tools. Each tap of her mallet is a continuation of an ancient practice. The designs she inks tell stories of a person’s journey and their connection to the land. To receive one is to become part of the story of her Kalinga tribe.
Globally, she is celebrated as the best tattoo artist. In Buscalan, she is Apo Whang-od, a respected elder. She works with focus and purpose. She gives people the mark of her village and the mark of her tribe. She makes sure this old practice continues.
