Whang-od Oggay - Kalinga, Phillippinen
"When you die, a tattoo is the only thing that stays on your body. So consider it a treasure, ”explains Whang-od Oggay, the world's oldest master tattoo artist. She has been decorating people with her art and symbols for decades. In the past, warriors and women from the Butbut tribe in the Kalinga region were her main customers: today, it is mainly travellers from around the world who visit this small community and its resident tattoo master. The tools of her trade are the thorns of citrus trees, and bamboo sticks; the ink, a mixture of charcoal and water. The motif that will be tattooed is traditionally determined by the master tattoo artist herself. Because of her age, Whang-od Oggay has continued to simplify the symbols she imprints on people’s bodies. What she tattoos on people represents three points in their life that stand for their past, present, and future.
