Rock, rap artists lead ‘musical reunion’ at Dutdutan 23 – Philstar.com

Barbie Almalbis, Gloc-9, Joey Ayala, Teeth, Skusta Clee and Zild

Dutdutan celebrates and promotes the evolving and thriving tattoo art in the country. In its recent edition, it tapped musical talents such as Barbie Almalbis, Hed PE, Joey Ayala, December Avenue, Gracenote, Gloc-9, Sandwich, Skusta Clee, Teeth, Tres Marias, Urbandub and Zild to provide entertainment to the delight of tattoo artists and enthusiasts. Last year, Dutdutan had Urbandub, Chicosci, Franco and Mayonnaise, to name a few, for its lineup of Pinoy bands.

The annual, two-day convention successfully showcased the beauty of the two-dimensional art, whose origins can be traced back to the times of pintados (tattooed) people, set against and complemented with the auditory art. It was presented by Tribal Gear, The Lower Left and PHILTAG.

Dutdutan 23 reminds one that a tattoo is a form of self-expression that captures an artist’s thoughts and memories in an aesthetic, creative way, similar to a collection of well-crafted words set to music.

“People are expressive in their lives, they express the latter through art,” said Dutdutan founder Alfred Guevara in a brief interview, which also featured Tribal Gear founder Bobby Ruiz, “that encompasses their beliefs at paninindigan (and their stance in life). It’s a self-expression, karapatan nila yan (it’s their right), which can be seen visually in their body.” That makes it a permanent art.

“Tattooing is a huge art form, probably one of the biggest in the world right now,” added Ruiz. “It’s practiced internationally, you know, people love being tattooed and getting tattooed. The musical part of Dutdutan is something that Tribal has always been involved with.”

As to why music has earned a key and special place in Dutdutan, Guevara shared that music and tattoo art are like siblings. They are connected and complementary. Performances by guest artists provided the aural atmosphere as inkers created their work, as one may say.

Since everything is back to normal, the number of participants in the tattoo contest, the show’s centerpiece, doubled this year, said Guevara.

“We’re 20 plus years,” he added. “We can’t deny the fact that as different crafts (or forms of art) become popular (these days), tattoo art or skin art has never lost (its place) in the society. It helps people, the Filipino artists become productive and find work. Tattoo art has reached a high level not only in the Philippines, but also in the world.”

Aside from being an art form, tattoo is also a source of livelihood to artists.

Ruiz, who, as a boy, appreciated tattoo as art from family members and the community and considered it as a way to capture different facets of a person’s life, described the partnership between Dutdutan and Tribal Gear.

“It’s a great cultural, artistic partnership,” said he. “It’s exciting to work with Dutdutan. It has always been a great partnership.”

“There’s a great team here in the Philippines that takes care of the majority (of activities like) organizing (the event), the production and things like that,” added he. “I’ve thrown ideas here and there, but I have to give credit where credit is due. The Tribal Philippines and the team here do the production and a lot of brain storming. Like what I’ve said I’ve thrown in my two cents here and there when I can. You know, it’s just Tribal has always been involved with tattoos, music, and culture. It’s a fun, exciting, and ever evolving partnership that we have with them.”

The people behind the musical tattoo convention are always excited to develop and produce activities every year, as well as to see for themselves how Dutdutan unfolds.

Since tattoo artists, enthusiasts, and supporters have created friendships and rekindled each for the past years, they look forward to Dutdutan as a sort of reunion that is “fun” and “artistic,” as Ruiz put it.