WHO IS WHANG OD?

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Wednesday, 07th February
JULIE TOLENTINO: WHO IS WHANG OD?

PHOTOS COURTESY OF JULIE TOLENTINO, VIA VOID AND PROFOUND BLOGSPOT

Who is Whang Od?

Based in the Mountain Province in Buscalan, in the remote northern Cordillera Mountains and Ifugao highlands of the Philippines, lives the oldest known female tattooist, 91-year-old Whang Od. She belongs to a Kalinga headhunting tribe. To this clan of fierce Igorot warriors, an ancient history associated with themes of otherness and difference, as well as representations of beauty and powerful collectivity are an inherent part of contemporary traditions. The Kalinga’s commune with nature has created a life that integrates philosophical and geographical independence through creative, agricultural and educational sustainability.

Whang Od dedicated her life to the art of traditional tattooing after becoming a widow at a young age. Now she is the highest income-producing member in her town of Buscalan. Whang Od is a living icon whose trajectory resonates as I make the transition from a quarter of a century in NYC, to living off-grid, creating art, and hosting artists in the Mohave Desert.

August 2012