MANILA, Philippines - Recent trends continue to rock and alter the perception of the norms in society. Just as rock music started to play in local news and mini skirts and Chuck Taylors started making regular appearances in formal events, tattoos have also become a generally accepted fashion accessory in our society.

The black and permanent ink that was fit for an underground society has evolved into an artwork of self-expression. Tattoos or skin art have come a long way from once being a discriminatory mark for outcasts of society into living artworks.

Just like any art form, designing the skin with permanent ink has its own history, meaning and even a soul.

The Black Ink in Philippine Culture

Before having ink was considered cool in the country, the first who had it were people who had committed sins against society. The negative generalization continued with men having big tattoos being discriminated as convicts.

“Tattoos have a real dark history when you think about it. Having marks in the body was usually for the outcasts in the older times. Then after a while, it became a mark for gangsters and mafias in Asia as well as other countries,” said Ricky Sta. Ana, President of Philippine Tattoo Artists Guild (PhilTAG).

The PhilTAG President is considered as one of the pioneers of skin art in the country. With over 20 years of experience and passion for his craft, Sta. Ana has already received numerous recognitions in and out of the country for his artworks.

“Filipino Tattoo is a synthesis of all the best designs of skin art from other countries. Sadly, our authentic local designs seem to have died out because of the dark history behind it. The wonderful works of art in local tribes in the Philippines are also greatly affected by poverty as the next generation of tribespeople have been sent out to the city and have forgotten about their local art,” expressed Sta. Ana.

Sta. Ana added: “When you say Chinese tattoo, it is easily recognizable as well as Japanese, Thai and even Malay. They have a unique characteristic on how they do their artworks but with our country’s history and numerous influences, it’s not a mystery why we have a synergized art form. After all, taking all the best features of other artworks and producing something of our own is not something new for us.”

More than just marks

Sta. Ana has seen how the industry evolved into a pop culture over the years. Having a tattoo has grown into a common form of self expression and slowly became a unique lifestyle.

“When I started out, I didn’t know that putting tattoos on people can lead me somewhere in my life. Back then, putting ink on people was all I have and you have to consider that back then it wasn’t really that much accepted so I had no idea how big it can be, I had no idea that it can turn into a lifestyle,” recalled Sta. Ana.

Slowly, from customers who wanted to have their gangster marks put into their chest, the market for skin art started to grow. From regular blue collared people, celebrities and fellow artists started coming into his store to be tagged.

“It’s one of the most visible indications on how skin art has become an embraced culture in our society. From simply wanting to express ourselves and putting art into our bodies, we now have numerous events to celebrate this unique lifestyle,” said Sta. Ana

Aside from various personalities and lay people wanting to get inked, it’s the celebration of skin art that has amazed the most versatile tattoo artist in the country.

“We now have a tattoo competition where we hone and enhance local talents. We also have a very popular event called Dutdutan which is now on its tenth year and promises to be the grandest celebration where music, art, tattoo, extreme sports, and car shows are combined,” added Sta. Ana.

The Dynamics of Colors

Its evolution from simply branding a person into a unique art form comes with the inspiration and soul that Sta. Ana permanently marks into his clients.

“What I love about skin art is the connection and the process that go with it. A lot of people come in wanting to put various designs into their bodies only to find out that it’s not really what they want. Skin art is a product of two unique minds, it’s something that comes out of the client and improved by the artist, it’s more than just a nice looking accessory in the body,” explained Sta. Ana.

What makes Sta. Ana stand out from other artists is his passion and respect for the industry and he doesn’t look at the tattoo industry as a profitable source of income but an artwork made out of personal connection.

Over the years, Sta. Ana has developed a way of ciphering people’s personality. He knows what work of art perfectly fits his clients. He said: “When you are putting tattoos on somebody, personal relationship is very important. It’s one of the sources of inspiration for an artist. That’s why, we ask carefully our clients before going through the entire process why they would like to have a tattoo.”

According to Sta. Ana, wanting to be cool or other similar mundane reasons are discouraged and rejected because they don’t fully understand what they are getting themselves into.

Having a permanent art in your body takes a lot of time and consideration. But once you have, only then can you go through the physically numbing process of putting art into your body.