I made this print as a tribute to Apo Whang-Od. 109yrs old and she is still tattooing in the Philippines. As a Filipino artist and tattooer, I come back to her story often. It keeps me grounded. Her life and craft are a constant source of inspiration for me. She is a living bridge to our heritage.

I chose a linocut style to mirror the physical, permanent nature of tattooing. I wanted to capture the map of her life, the "batok" on her skin, the wisdom in her expression, and the Kalinga mountains she calls home.

This is a screen print, hand pulled on Aurora Natural White paper.

• Paper Size: 13 x 19"

• Print Size: 10 x 15"

• The Paper: A heavy 300gsm (80lb) paper with an 18-mil thickness, archival, and museum-quality.

More about this on going series of prints:.
Lately, my thoughts have been drifting across the Pacific to where my mom is. There’s a weight to that distance. These prints are my way of closing the gap until I can finally be there in person again.

There is a specific spirit in the Philippines that inspires me every time I go. The way talent & creativity thrive in the streets, and how people make the absolute most out of what they have. These pieces are a tribute to that resourcefulness and the deep roots of our culture.