Lane Wilcken
LOCATION:
STYLE:
Traditional Tap Tattoo, Filipino Tattoos
STUDIO:
Lane Wilcken
"Cultural tattooing is a RITUAL. There are chants, prayers and offerings to gods/ancestors to whom these tattoos are dedicated. Blessings & sometimes curses are invoked in bestowing these designs, as well as being marks of prestige, heritage & history. Modern western tattooing is the result of taking indigenous practices and stripping them of their spiritual qualities leaving only the 'art' upon the skin. The recipient is left to make their own meaning for the designs rather than receive sacred ritual marks that are recognized by generations upon generations of ancestors. Let us work to decolonize tattooing and restore its honor." -Lane Wilcken
ARTIST BIO:
Lane Wilcken is a well recognized mambabatok or Filipino hand-tap tattoo practitioner. He specializes in the traditional symbolism of the Philippines and applies tattoos as a spiritual practice. Lane constructs his traditional tattoo tools using wood, horn, bone, and thorns. He has studied the tattoo practices of the Philippines for 25+ years and is the author of "Filipino Tattoos: Ancient to Modern" and "The Forgotten Children of Maui: Filipino Myths, Tattoos & Rituals of a Demigod." Lane is of Filipino, English, and Scandinavian descent and his maternal family was well acquainted in the spiritual practices of the Philippines. Lane has lectured on the tattooing traditions of the Philippines at several universities, private forums, as well as made television appearances.
"The practice of batok is a cultural tradition that, when done properly as a ritual, enhances the spiritual relationship of the wearer to their anito or ancestors' spirits so they may move forward in united strength with their ancestors and posterity."