One of the oldest living tattoo artists in the world is 97-year-old Whang-Od Oggay from the Philippines. He is the last mambabatok, a traditional Kalinga tattooist and the oldest mambabatok in the world. He still practices his traditional art on tourists and locals alike in his hometown of Buscalan. While some people are more interested in a more modern style, Whang-Od is a true living legend.
Apo Whang-od Oggay is the Philippines’ oldest tattoo artist. He started the practice at age 15 and now teaches 20 young girls. In the ancient culture of the Kalinga tribe, mambabatok (the earliest form of mambabatok is a tattooist) applied the ink by hand-tapping the coal into the skin. Today, he is the oldest living mambabatok, still practicing traditional Kalinga methods.
Apo Whang-od Oggay is one of the oldest tattoo artists in the world. She started working at age 15 and is currently teaching 20 young girls. She believes that pictures are good luck, especially for men, and she uses a unique style to achieve the most detailed and colorful designs. She also uses charcoal and water to create her masterpieces, which are considered a cultural art form in the Philippines. Her signature style is the Batok, and she is one of the last masters of her tradition.
