Prick Magazine - Borneo Tattoo Feature

The headhunting tribes of Borneo developed tattooing into a high art form back in the jungle mists of time. Although headhunting died out years ago, their tattooing traditions live on thanks to Jerry and Ernesto of Borneo Headhunters Tattoo Studio.

The shop is located in Kuching, the capital of the Malaysian state of Sarawak on Borneo's north coast. With missionary zeal, they are taking tattooing back to the jungle longhouses and reviving respect for tribal traditions among the Ibans, Sarawak's largest ethnic group.

They are also boosting Borneo body art internationally by organizing the 1st International Borneo Tattoo Convention in Kuching from May 1-5. More than 3,000 overseas visitors, including some of the top names in the international tattooing industry, have signed up for the convention. Artists from the U.S., Europe, Asia and Australasia will be represented.

Eyes aglow with evangelistic fervor, Jerry recounts the impetus for the convention: "We realized through watching MTV that young people locally follow overseas fashions. So, we decided that if the world's best tattoo artists performed in Kuching, local people would realize that their culture and their history are highly respected overseas."

When Jerry says the world's best, he means it. Starring at the convention are the Leu Family and Bit Schoenenburger from Lausanne in Switzerland, Hiro Hiro from Japan, Samoa's Petelo Sulape, and Tin Tin from France. The big U.S. contingent includes Leo Zulueta of California, New Mexico's Running Bear and Freewind (Blackwave Tattoos) from LA.

Lyle Tuttle of the San Francisco Tattoo Museum will give open historical forums, seminars and exhibitions of tattoo machines.

"When these overseas experts come here and show the people how much they are valued, it will change the way locals regard tattooing and body art," says Jerry.

Reviving local tattooing traditions is something Jerry and Ernesto have been working at since they opened their studio in the historic part of Kuching four years ago.

"We learned tattooing in jungle longhouses," says Jerry. "We talked to longhouse elders, sought their permission and asked if there were rituals attached to tattooing. We researched the meaning of the designs.

"We found that tattooing was dying out in the longhouses because young people were not getting it done. They wanted city office jobs with ties and suits. There's nothing wrong with that. What we are saying here is that you can have that without losing your traditions.

"What we are trying to do is make people realize that what they had before, all this knowledge, all this culture, if they practice it again, this could bring them more than they ever dreamed of," says Jerry. "Respect wise, value wise, culturally and in every way."

The first step began by building up an international reputation. They did that all right. Last year they won 1st and 2nd prizes for tribal designs at the Massachusetts Convention. Then they "started going back to the longhouses and tattooing people for free," he says,"but, only traditional designs. If they wanted a modern design we charged them the normal studio prices.

"At first they were frightened of the machine," he recalls. "But as one guy got a tattoo and the word spread we had people coming from other longhouses. Now we have people who are interested in learning tattooing."

The international success of the Borneo Tattoo Convention and the enthusiasm and hard work of Jerry and Ernesto will ensure that Borneo's ancient tattooing traditions are not lost to the body-art world.