For Mentawai People, Tattoo is a symbol of art expression and a status determination in society.Moreover, Tattoo for Mentawai People is also symbol for an eternity clothing. The importance of having tattoo in Mentawai society is substantial, they are believe that tattoo will show their ancestor in heaven.
These societies that live in Mentawai, West Sumatra are always having full body tattooed. The body parts that want to be tattooed will be designed by using thin stick; a line motif tattoo is the characteristic of Mentawai, which has particular method space in drawing. Originally, the system of spacing will manually use finger. The motif that ready for drawing will be prick by using wooden pin. The pin that being used is made by animal bones or sharpened wooden Karai. The wooden handle will gently hit by using wooden hammer to absorb the color solution into the skin.
The tattoo dyes that being used are made from a mixture of natural colors, which is made from sugarcane and coconut shell charcoal. The process of tattooing will start from hands, arms, legs and body, and it will make swollen and bleed for few days.
In addition to line pattern, there are other tattoo motifs which are made to follow a number of rules, usually distinguished by the origin of the village or clan. This is due to the function of tattoos as an identity of the Mentawai tribe.
The motif is also describes the identity and social status or profession of a person. The tattoo of a tribal elder (sikerei) will be different with a tattoo who is a hunter. The hunters will make tattooed with pictures of animals, such as birds, pigs, monkeys, deer, or alligator. While sikerei usually have sibalu-balu star tattoos on her body.
Mentawai's tattoos called the titi, whereas people who are good at tattooing called sipatiti or sipaniti. Not everyone can be sipatiti or sipaniti. Usually, a sipatiti or sipaniti will be given a pig or some chickens as a remuneration for their works of tattooing.
The process during tattooing is not easy but it follows number of procedures and customs that takes a long time. The preparation stage can be few months. A number of ceremonies and taboos (punen) must be passed or made before the tattoo is done.
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