On November 24, 2026, the development of a central artwork began for the poster of the international tattoo festival “Borneo Handtapping Tattoo Weekend”. The artist DUNGA Tattoo from Indonesia decided the jungle them deliberately chosen for the poster, serving as a powerful visual and symbolic element closely tied to the identity of the event. A wonderful artwork with MOLOTOW Blackliner in use.
Just one day later, on November 25, 2025, the Indonesian island of Sumatra was struck by one of the deadliest natural disasters in decades. Massive flash floods and landslides caused widespread destruction across the provinces of Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra. By late December 2025, the death toll had reached 1,170 people, with hundreds still reported missing. More than 1.1 million people were forced to leave their homes, and approximately 186,000 houses were damaged or destroyed.
While Sumatra’s humid tropical climate naturally brings heavy rainfall, environmental degradation has significantly increased the region’s vulnerability. Deforestation, the conversion of forests into palm oil plantations, mining activities, and river narrowing have all reduced the land’s ability to absorb water. These changes contribute to a growing risk of floods and landslides, placing the region in an increasingly precarious situation.
Borneo faces similar challenges. Massive deforestation has been ongoing for decades, affecting both the Indonesian and Malaysian parts of the island. The expansion of palm oil plantations has led to the loss of ancestral lands for Indigenous communities, the destruction of natural habitats, and a gradual erosion of traditional ways of life. This also impacts the transmission of ancient tattoo practices.
When forests disappear, more is lost than just trees—it is the loss of a living cultural archive. For Indigenous communities in Borneo, the forest is deeply intertwined with identity. Tattoos often reflect the flora and fauna surrounding them, serving as expressions of knowledge, spirituality, and belonging.
The Borneo Handtapping Tattoo Weekend contributes to keeping these traditions alive. Hand-tapping tattooing is not only a technique but also a cultural practice. The rhythmic tapping of wood against the needle creates a direct connection between the artist, the land, and ancestral heritage—a connection that modern machines cannot replicate in the same way.
Cultural Significance and Resistance:
- Preservation of Traditions: The event brings together tattoo artists from across Borneo (Sarawak, Sabah, Kalimantan), other parts of Indonesia and Malaysia, the Philippines, and selected international guests, with a focus on traditional tribal tattooing.
- Cultural Identity: For communities such as the Dayak, tattooing is an ancient practice that marks life milestones, achievements, and spiritual protection, often using motifs inspired by nature.
- A Call to Protect the Forest: The event creates a space to resist the growing commercialization of the tattoo industry while highlighting the importance of Borneo’s forests as an essential part of Indigenous life and culture.
