They draw attention to, and even accent the muscle and mold to the shape of the body without being forced the way some less traditional designs have to. The patterns used here have been designed very specifically to complement the arm’s shape and biology, following the musculature of the shoulder down to the elbow. But the arm was often the first part of the whole canvas which is why the half sleeve Filipino tribal tattoo is still such a popular design. Traditionally, many Filipino tribal tattoos started on the arms and spread across the body as the warrior who bore them aged and achieved more status. The end result is something laid onto flesh with a nearly mathematical precision in which elements from the top of the tattoo, the bottom of the tattoo, and the middle of the tattoo all match and could be interchangeable. That means competent and accurate shading, black that is as solid as night, and lines that maintain their weight across the whole of the design with no blow outs, no wavering, and no gaps. Designs can be simpl e, but a superior tattoo is going to standout with incredibly precise, clean line s t hat create an intricate mesh of shapes and patterns. Intricate F ilipino tribal tattoosĪ hallmark of the Filipino tribal tattoo style is that intricate pattern of linework that makes each design what it is. All parts of the body except hands and feet were considered prime real estate for ink.īelow you’ll find a mix of both modern to traditional tribal styles in addition to everything else in between. Armbands were popular choices as far as placement, as were full chest pieces. These patterns included circles, diamonds, as well as rudimentary shapes of dogs, men and eagles. As with many forms of indigenous tattooing, repetitive, meticulous patterns were commonplace, as opposed to the elaborate, photo-realistic images often seen in modern Western tattooing.

For example, if an artist grew up near a mountain range with a river running through it, symbols depicting mountains and rivers would likely feature in their designs.įilipino tribal tattoos offered men protection, represented a tribe member’s bravery in battle, or signified their tribe status.

Traditionally, an artist tattooed scenes and symbols highlighting aspects of the area where they themselves grew up.

Many modern Filipinos frown on tattooing in general.Īs far as the designs common to this style, Filipino tribal tattoos often draw inspiration from nature. Now, true Filipino tribal tattoos (called batek in the Philippines) are a rarity, and a Filipino tattoo artist will only ink these designs on clients of Filipino heritage. Unfortunately, by the 1700s, the practice had all but fallen by the wayside due to the influence of invaders such as the Spanish Conquistadors.

The art of tattooing was once an integral part of tribal culture in the Philippines.

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