Mentawai tribe, West Sumatra, Indonesia 2019.
Finally, I am proud to present the “Mentawai Tribe” gallery, one of the oldest communities on the planet that I have had the privilege of photographing in Sumatra, Indonesia. They live in the jungle surrounded by and united with their supernatural forces, ancestral spirits, and an ancient culture full of wisdom. ¡
Mentawai tattoos are considered as the oldest in the world and for them, tattoos symbolize the balance between foresters and nature. The tattoos are made from natural ingredients such as charcoal. A shaman will pray for the charcoal before using it to make a tattoo. The Mentawai still depend on nature for their overall well being and the passing of traditions on to future generations has not been disruptive!
