Filipino Mambabatok and Other Artists Featured in 2024 China Tattoo Convention

2024 China Tattoo Convention on 25 to 27 May 2024. (Photo courtesy of JJ Mandigma)

BEIJING 06 June 2024 – Wilma Gaspili, a diminutive lady with arms covered in tattoos, stood out at the recently held 2024 China Tattoo Convention on 25 to 27 May 2024. Not only was she one of few female tattoo artists showcased during China’s longest running tattoo event in China; she was also the only one traditional tattoo artist there. 

A Filipino mambabatok, Gaspili, who hails from Benguet Province, attracted the attention of Chinese and foreign participants, curious about her unique way of tattooing - with the light tapping of bamboo draws to inscribe tattoo.

She said joining the convention in Langfang Conference and Exhibition Center in Hebei, China, is a big step in promoting her goal as an indigenous tattoo artist. Her craft is part of efforts to revive traditional practices that were lost in time or at risk of being forgotten.  

She beamed with a smile and took pride in being the only traditional tattoo artist among the others.   

Gaspili was joined by three other world-class Filipino tattoo artists, Joel Buzon, Analou Savage, and Aldrin Ace Jimenez. 

Jimenez, who joined the “small piece and black and gray” category, proudly displayed the Philippine flag in his booth as he worked on his entry. He takes price in representing the Philippines among hundreds of invited tattoo artists from more than 40 different countries. 

The China Tattoo Convention is the longest-running and most prestigious tattoo event in China. Since its creation, it has become a platform to showcase the beauty and diversity of the Chinese tattoo culture to the world, attracting over the years some of the biggest names and personalities in the global scene of tattoo industry. It is open to Chinese and foreign tattoo artists.

The event knows no border in nationalities, race, or colors, with tattoo artists and enthusiasts agreeing that the art of tattoo is a form of self-expression, cultural significance, and artistic exploration. 

Bound by their shared passion for tattoo, the visiting Filipino tattoo artists were assisted and supported by Mr.  DJ Pelaez from the group of Filipino Artists in Beijing (FAB) and Ms. Catherine Clemente from BIMPAAK, the group of Filipinos in Beijing who hail from the provinces in the Cordilleras. END

Mr. Aldrin Ace Jimenez with his client in his booth during the 2024 China Tattoo Convention. A Philippine flag was proudly displayed in his booth. (Photo courtesy of JJ Mandigma)

First photo: Ms. Gaspili doing a tattoo on a client while her traditional tools were displayed in her booth. Second photo: Ms. Gaspili demonstrating the “pambabatok”, a traditional process of tattooing that involves tapping of the stick and bamboo to embed the ink on the skin. (Photo courtesy of JJ Mandigma)

For more information, visit https://www.beijingpe.dfa.gov.ph.