Natwerk Designs

Elle wears a contemporary version of the traditional Kalinga bikking

Summary: Elle wears a contemporary version of the traditional Kalinga bikking that is comprised of traditional and modern tattoo styles Some of Festin s tattoos on left forearm symbolize the four waves of colonizers who came to make the Philippines home the first peoples comprised the afro Asiatic Aeta pygmies the second the Malayo Polynesians the third the Arabs and Indians who introduced literature and writing and finally the Spanish colonizers Other motifs recall totems traditionally used by Cordilleran warriors like the carabao water buffalo on Elle s neck that represents strength loyalty and humbleness but also danger especially when it is provoked Festin states We want to revive traditional tattooing and make it a norm for the Filipino youth of today Because without this knowledge there will be no true history of our people Tattoos by P J Big Rock Po oino and Aisea All designs by Elle Festin

Image Dimensions: 228 x 350