Filipina Apo Whang-Odová is known not only in her native country, but also all over the world. Even at the age of one hundred and six, a woman devotes herself to the profession of tattoo artist, which she has been doing for an incredible ninety years. The woman’s love for a specific style and execution of tattoos was instilled by her father, who taught her skin painting since she was a teenager.
The last mambabatok of its generation
Whang-Odová tattoos using a bamboo stick, water, pomelo thorn and charcoal. Not only Filipinos want to see her work, but also tourists who are willing to travel all over the world to see the artist. Tatérka lives in the mountain village of Buscalan, about a 15-hour drive from Manila, the capital of the Philippines. Every year, thousands of people come to Whang-Od to get a traditional tattoo made of geometric patterns.
The artist is considered the last mambabatok, i.e. tater, of her generation. She imprinted the symbols of the Philippine Kalinga tribe, which stand for strength, love and courage, into the skin of thousands of people. For the server CNN Whang-Odová confided in the past that art can only be passed on to blood relatives. He thus passes on his experience to his two great-nieces, Elyang Wigan and Grace Palicas.
As long as he can see, he will continue to tattoo
The Filipina is not worried about the tradition falling after her death. “The tradition will continue as long as people go to get tattoos. As long as I can see well, I will continue tattooing. I’ll stop when my eyesight gets worse’ she described her plans as an artist.
Thanks to her work, Whang-Odová even got on the cover of the Philippine lifestyle magazine Vogue. “We believe that the concept of beauty must evolve to include diverse and inclusive faces and forms,” she described editor-in-chief Bea Valdesová about her decision to put the tater tots on the cover.
She humbled the famous actress
Even before the 160-year-old tater tot appeared on the cover of the magazine, the record for the oldest model was held by actress Judi Dench (88), who appeared on the cover of British Vogue in 2020.
