Traditional Filipino Tattoos in the Diaspora
Batok Portraits is a series of portraits of Filipino-Americans that have received traditional, hand-tapped Filipino tattoos called “batok.” After Spanish colonization, tattooing became taboo, and the practice that was prevalent in many indigenous groups was nearly eradicated. Today, Filipinos are rediscovering the art and seek to receive markings, often chosen for them by the artist through a spiritual tattooing ritual, as a way of reclaiming their indigenous roots.
