MANILA, Philippines — Cordillera's oldest and sole original "mambabatok" Whang-Od is featured in an exhibit in Toronto, Canada.
Drawing record crowds last year in Paris, the exhibit "Titled Tattoo: Ritual, identity, obsession, art," traveled to the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) in Canada to draw people to the history and beauty of body art.
Posted by Whang Od on Tuesday, April 5, 2016
"Tattoos: Ritual. Identity. Obsession. Art. explores the 5000-year-old multifaceted world of tattooing, showcasing a visual history of body art and markings, ancient tools, and commissioned tattooed silicone body reproductions, inked by some of the most respected tattoo artists in the contemporary world," the release said.
On display are more than 200 works of art, including photos, posters and documentary videos and a series of 13 silicone body part replica showing some of the work of the world's illustrious tattoo artists like Apo Whang-Od.
Tattooed silicone body parts by renowned tattoo artists among unusual highlights at #ROMink @ROMtoronto #cbcnewsarts pic.twitter.com/A3bh8AEjXD
— Nigel Hunt (@NigelHunt1) March 30, 2016
Whang-Od also known as Fang-od Oggay, uses ?indigenous Filipino tradition of tattooing—inscribing tattoo on person’s skin using pomelo tree thorn and bamboo doused in water and soot. Because of her historical significance in the heritage and culture of the Philippines, many proposed that she be hailed as a National Artist and given a Pambansang Alagad ng Sining award.
The exhibit curated by the founders of the magazine, ‘HEY! Modern Art & Pop, Anne & Julien, will be open from April 2 until September 2016.