World's Oldest Tattoo Artist

Summary

In the remote jungles of the Philippines, 103-year-old tattoo artist Whang-Od is the last of her kind, keeping a thousand-year-old tradition alive. She doesn't use modern tattoo machines but instead creates intricate designs with charcoal ink and thorns, tapping tattoos by hand. Tourists from around the world travel for days to receive her unique tattoos, each symbolizing protection, direction, or long life. Whang-Od’s artistry links modern-day visitors to an ancient heritage, ensuring her legacy endures long after she’s gone.

Takeaways

• 😀 A 103-year-old woman in the Philippines is the oldest tattoo artist in the world.
• 😀 This tattoo artist does not use a machine; instead, she uses thorns from trees and charcoal ink.
• 😀 Tourists travel for days to reach her remote village of Buscalan to receive a tattoo from her.
• 😀 Unlike modern tattoo practices, customers don’t choose their design; the tattoos carry specific meanings (e.g., protection, direction, long life).
• 😀 The tattooing process involves tapping the needles on the skin, and the artist can perform up to 100 taps per minute.
• 😀 Tattoos are priced at only 20 USD, offering an affordable connection to a rich cultural tradition.
• 😀 The tattoos symbolize a lost history, as they were once used to wish people good luck in battle and marriage.
• 😀 The tattoo tradition has been passed down over a thousand years, but the artist, Ode, is the last remaining practitioner in her village.
• 😀 Ode made history as the first woman in her village to become a tattoo maker.
• 😀 In a break with tradition, Ode now tattoos tourists, ensuring the preservation of the ancient practice for future generations.
• 😀 The story is part of a 30-day video marathon highlighting fascinating individuals from around the world, shared through the Nas Daily YouTube channel.

Q & A

Who is the woman featured in the video, and why is she significant?

The woman featured in the video is a 103-year-old tattoo artist from the Philippines. She is significant because she is the oldest tattoo artist in the world, using traditional methods to create tattoos with handmade ink and thorns as needles. Her tattoos are deeply connected to a lost cultural tradition, and she is the last living practitioner of this art.

What is unique about the way this tattoo artist creates tattoos?

This tattoo artist uses traditional methods that include making her own ink from charcoal and water. She also uses thorns from a tree as needles and applies the tattoo by tapping it onto the skin at a rate of 100 taps per minute. This method is distinct from modern tattoo machines.

Why do tourists travel to such a remote village to get tattoos from her?

Tourists travel to this remote village not only for the chance to get a unique and meaningful tattoo but also to connect with a dying cultural tradition. The tattoos carry deep cultural significance, and tourists are drawn by the idea of preserving this ancient art on their bodies.

How does the tattoo artist decide what design to give her clients?

The tattoo artist does not let clients choose their own design. Instead, she offers a selection of pre-determined designs, each with its own specific meaning. For example, one design symbolizes protection, another represents direction, and a third stands for long life.

What is the historical significance of the tattoos this artist creates?

The tattoos created by this artist are a link to a long-lost tradition that dates back over 1,000 years. In the past, tattoos were given to village men and women to bless them with good luck in battles and marriages. This tradition is now rare, with this artist being the last remaining practitioner of this ancient craft.

What does the tattoo artist’s role represent within her community?

The tattoo artist’s role is incredibly important as she is the first woman in her village to become a tattoo maker. As the tradition has died out over time and other tattoo artists have passed away, she has taken on the responsibility of preserving the practice, including by tattooing tourists.

How does the video narrator describe their journey to meet the tattoo artist?

The narrator describes a challenging journey to reach the tattoo artist. After flying to the northern Philippines, they traveled on a jeep for a full day and trekked overnight to reach the remote village of Buscalan, where the tattoo artist lives. This arduous trip highlights the difficulty in reaching her.

What is the cost of a tattoo from this 103-year-old artist, and what does it symbolize?

A tattoo from this artist costs only 20 USD, which is a small price for a deeply meaningful and culturally significant tattoo. The tattoos are not just beautiful; they symbolize protection, good fortune, and a connection to an ancient tradition.

Why did the tattoo artist decide to start tattooing tourists?

The tattoo artist decided to start tattooing tourists to ensure the tradition of tattooing would continue after the other practitioners passed away. By tattooing tourists, she helps keep the tradition alive and ensures that it can be carried forward through the tattoos on people's skin.

What message does the narrator convey at the end of the video?

At the end of the video, the narrator emphasizes the importance of preserving this unique tradition and the artist’s role in keeping it alive. The narrator invites viewers to subscribe and follow their 30-day video marathon, which explores fascinating stories from around the world.