Dutdutan XII: The living art of the ink crowd

MANILA, Philippines - A swelling crowd of thousands, a full dose of skin art lifestyle experience and an insane number of tattoos inked in one day  marked Dutdutan XII. 

Bigger and grander than last year’s expo, Dutdutan XII housed a record number of attendees making it the biggest and No. 1 Asian tattoo exposition. 

With the enormous three halls of the World Trade Center packed to the rafters last Sept. 28 and 29, the two-day event saw a crowd of artists, collectors and ink enthusiasts.  The 130 tattoo booths set up were manned by the best local and international tattoo artists from around the world who represented the different styles that created the multi-faceted tattoo panorama today. 

From modern needle machines to traditional tattooing, collectors and newbies got their fill of ink, witnessed master inkers at work and took pleasure in the much-anticipated event showcases.

Presented by Tribal Gear Philippines, the event kicked off with a competition among notorious inkers this land had ever seen. Killer works went on display as tattoo artists and their collectors showed them off on stage. Top inkers received cash and a trophy, symbolic of the recognition awarded to worthy inkers.

Special guest, who flew in from San Diego, California, was Tribal founder and Tribal Worldwide Clique head honcho Bobby Ruiz. His entourage included Tribal Gear resident artists Big Tiny and Alex Garcia, and the infamous Sen Dog and Eric Bobo of Cypress Hill. Even local celebrities took part in the celebration.

From vivid, larger-than-life tattoos and sizzling babes in fantasy costumes, to the fiercest URCC exhibition fights and a drum duel display, Dutdutan XII had it all under one gigantic roof.

Crowding the WTC at opening night, the audience was treated to a full taste of the inked lifestyle coupled with URCCs hardcore exhibition fights. Fighting skills worthy of real warriors were displayed by hardcore power fighters.

Event highlights also included Tribal Gear’s cosplay-themed Bikini Contest by FHM, a fine proof that nice bods and fine tattoos go very well together! Not to be outshone was the newest addition to Dutdutan’s slew of showcases, the Russian Bells, who displayed their pole tricks and treated everyone to a vertical climax.

Dutdutan’s Drum Duel, for the third time, discovered yet another brilliant percussion talent. The featured showcase stole the show during the second night as amateur drummers showed off their skills and tricks with the sticks. Highlighting the event was the Drum King jamming with Cypress Hill’s Eric.  

An ultimate tattoo party was had by all in a full amped weekend as performances from the most sought-after bands assured the incessant bobbing of heads from the crowd and kept the joint heaving.

Tattoos have hit the mainstream by way of reality TV shows, by their high-profile positions on the bodies of celebrities and by tattoo gatherings as big and bad as Dutdutan. The days of anyone choosing to adorn themselves in body art being treated as an outcast are long gone. And as each generation discovers the thrill of a high-powered needle leaving a work of art that will always be with them, inkers are finding no shortage of canvases.

Dutdutan XII gathered a new breed of the tattooed generation. A new lifestyle scene is in full swing.

But the best is yet to come. Till next year, fellow pintados!     

Dutdutan XII is presented by Tribal Gear; co-presented by Skinworkz Tattoo, PhilTAG and Colt 45; sponsored by Pepsi, Kenny Rogers, JB Music, Padis Point, AEROMED, and Avatar Tattoo; with media partners The Philippine STAR, FHM, Jack TV, Magic 89.9, Wave 89.1, Gala Magazine and Clavel Magazine.