Tattoos
August 9, 2019

102-Year-Old Tattooist Is Keeping an Ancient Philippine Tattoo Tradition Alive

At 102 years old, Whang-Od Oggay (who also goes by Whang-od or Maria Oggay) is helping to keep an ancient tradition alive in the Kalinga province of the Philippines. She’s the country’s oldest mambabatok, a traditional Kalinga tattooist. Each morning at dawn, Whang-Od wakes to craft a mixture of ink from pine soot and water in preparation to apply hand-tapped tattoos on the bodies of people from around the world.

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Art History
August 7, 2019

Tracing the History of Decorative Art, a Genre Where “Form Meets Function”

Today, the word “art” is often associated with genres like drawing, painting, and sculpture. However, in addition to these subgroups (collectively referred to as “fine art”), there exists another important art form: decorative art. Comprising crafts that pair form with function, decorative art has played a pivotal role in the history of art, whether materializing as ancient wares, medieval textiles, or modern furniture.

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Installation
August 6, 2019

Immersive Nature Art Projections Emerge on Megaliths in a Japanese Bath House

Known for its immersive, technology-driven installations, Japanese art and tech studio teamLab’s newest installation transforms old bath house ruins with projected, nature-inspired artwork. The beautiful Megaliths in the Bath House Ruins piece is part of a larger nighttime exhibition titled A Forest Where Gods Live, that sprawls across the 500,000-square-meter Mifuneyama Rakuen Park on the Japanese island of Kyushu.

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My Modern Met

Celebrating creativity and promoting a positive culture by spotlighting the best sides of humanity—from the lighthearted and fun to the thought-provoking and enlightening.