Tattoo artist Ruel ‘Wewe’ Patawaran has always been into the arts. He startded dabbling in tattooing at age 13 before taking up Fine Arts in college, which he did while working as set designer and prosthetic artist for the two biggest television networks in Manila. On the side, he does different kinds things, all art-related, for different parishes around Metro Manila. “I did a 30-feet stained glass window for the Sta Clara Parish in Pasay,” he says proudly. He’s been a full-time tattoo artist for eight years now, for three straight years —from 2009 to 2011 — Wewe has won awards for this micro tattoos of religious images. Coconuts Manila talks to Wewe, who, by the way, will keep his shop open throughout Holy Week—in case anyone feels like tattooing the Last Supper on Maundy Thursday.
Can you tell us about that band-aid sized Last Supper?
Ah, I did that on my wife, Susan. It won in 2010 Dutdutan, pero hindi yun yung una. Nung 2009, nanalo ako for the thumb-sized Our Lady of Guadalupe. Sa misis ko rin yun tinattoo. (I tattooed that on my wife, Susan. It won in Dutdutan 2010 but that’s not the first micro-tattoo win. In 2009, I won for a thumb-sized Our Lady of Guadalupe, which I also tattooed on my wife.)
I heard something about detailing the images of Christ and Mary in the eyes of another religious character. Is this true?
Ah, yes. I put the images of Jesus and Mary in the eyes of Mother Teresa. That won the grand prize, tattoo of the night in 2011 Dutdutan. Maganda yung kuwento nun. The night before the competition, gumagawa ako ng belen for a church in Ermita. Kinailangan ko umuwi ng maaga kasi nga may competition, so nagpaalam ako sa pari, hindi ko na muna tatapusin. Nakiusap si Father kung puwede tapusin ko na lang. ‘Kung ano man yan, mananalo ka,’ sabi niya. So tinapos ko na lang. The next day, nag-decide ako na for the on-the-spot category, si Mother Teresa yung gagawin ko.
Duon sa pre-made category, gumawa ako ng stamp-sized Jesus and Mary pero nakaramdam ako na hindi ako mananalo [Ed: It won second place]. Narinig ko yung isang judge, kailangan raw ng magnifying glass. So sabi ko, baka kung liliitan ko, mas maappreciate nila. So right there and then, nag-decide ako na i-de-detail ko yung images ni Jesus and Mary sa mga mata ni Mother Teresa. Ayun, nanalo ako. Lesson learned: hindi sapat na magaling, kailangan may panggulat.
(Yes, I put the images of Jesus and Mary in the eyes of Mother Teresa. It wont the grand prize, tattoo of the night in 2011. That has a nice story. The eve of the competition, I was doing parish work. I was setting up the belen of a church in Ermita. I told the priest I had to go home early because there was Dutdutan the next day. The priest asked if I could stay to finish it. “Whatever competition that is, you’ll win it,” he said. So okay, I stayed to finish. The next day, I decided to make a Mother Teresa tattoo for the on-the-spot category.
For the pre-made category, I made a stamp-sized Jesus and Mary tattoo but I overheard one judge say they’ll need a magnifying glass for it. So I thought, maybe if I made the details smaller, they’ll appreciate it even more. I was working on the on-the-spot tattoo, so right there and then, I decided to insert images of Jesus and Mary on the eyes of Mother Teresa. True enough, I won for the night. Lesson learned: it’s not enough to be good. You need a wow factor, too)
Would you say religious tattoos are your specialty?
Hindi naman. Para sa kin, mas mahirap, mas masaya, so portraits, micros, and realistic tattoos.
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It’s Holy Week—is there a higher demand for religious tattoos?
Though hindi nawawala ang religious tattoos, napapansin ko may pagka-seasonal siya. Dumadami yung religious tattoos ngayon, yung mga may panata, kunwari. Sa January, dumadami yung nagpapa-tattoo ng Nazareno. Sa Halloween, yung mga Mexican-inspired Dia del Muerto-type. Pagka-uwian ng mga balikbayan, gusto nila yung mga Polynesian/tribal style. Ginagawa ko, nilalagyan ko ng, kunwari, Mayon volcano. Ang hindi nawawala, mga religious at memorial tattoos.
(I noticed it becomes seasonal. Right now, religious tattoos are high on demand. In January, the month of the Feast of the Black Nazarene, a lot of people come to the shop wanting a Black Nazarene tattoo. During Halloween, a lot of people want Mexican-type Dia del-Muertos tattoos. When balikbayans come home, they want tribla/Polynesian style so what I do I insert images of the country, like the Mayon volcano. But religious and memorial tattoos are always on the agenda.)
What are some of the biggest reasons of your clients give you when getting a religious tattoo?
Marami sa kanila OFW, so gusto magpa-tattoo ng mukha ni Jesus or ni Mama Mary para may guidance. Yung iba pa nga, pinapa-bendisyunan yung mga tattoo nila.
(A lot of my clients are OFW so before going on ships or going abroad, they want a tattoo of Jesus or Mary for guidance. Some of them even have their tattoos blessed.)
What are the most popular religious tattoos?
Jesus, Mary, Last Supper, Three Kings, yung mga archangels. Maraming nagpapagawa ng rosary, bible verses, infinity symbols marami ngayon. Minsan, kapag gasgas na talaga, ako na nag-di-discourage sa kanila.
(Jesus, Mary, Last Supper, Three Kings, the archangels. A lot ask for rosaries, bible verses. Infinity symbols are popular right now. Sometimes, when I notice that too many people are asking for the same thing, I discourage them from getting that tattoo.)
Yes, like what?
Tulad nung “Only God can judge me,” naku, gasgas na talaga. (The quote ‘Only God can judge me.’ That’s been done way too many times.)
Images courtesy of Ruel Patawaran. Ruel owns Maweh Artworks, 2543 Tejeron cor Sampaguita Sts, Sta. Ana, Manila. Tel. No. +639293462452. Open 4pm onwards but feel free to make an appointment any time.
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