Category: Interviews, News
Tags: Borneo Headhunters, ernesto kalum, Tattoo

Last time I saw Ernesto, we were both students in The University of Wolverhampton in the UK. I was studying Biology, he was studying Law and there was a lot of drinking involved, so recollections can be a bit hazy. Even then, he had a lot of tattooing experience and an interest in the heritage of his tribe, the Ibans. These days, more than a decade later, Ernesto is the founder of Borneo Headhunters, the first tattoo studio in Malaysia.

The Ibans are one of the major cultures of Malaysia and in the past have been famous for practicing headhunting. Today they are known for a wealth of traditions, including the art of tattooing. Borneo Headhunters (located in Kuching, the capital of the state of Sarawak, in Borneo) is more than a tattoo studio. It’s a direct line to a culture that deserves to be better- known to the rest of the world. Ernesto’s work has been featured in National Geographic Television and he was an adviser for the film The Sleeping Dictionary (starring Jessica Alba and Bob Hoskins). He is the winner of two H. P. Giger awards for Best Tribal Tattoo and Respect To The Culture.

http://www.borneoheadhunter.com/

(Interview by Dimitris Kontogiannis)

Even when you were living and studying in the UK, you had mentioned that you wanted to be a tattoo artist. How did you go from the Wolverhampton Law School, to the first tattoo studio in Malaysia?

I don’t think that law is for me. I studied it just to go out from the country. And I have been tattooing for fun even before i went to UK. Plus
it’s something for the culture and nobody is doing it at that time and the culture is already dead.

What did you learn when you started for the first time in England in 1998?

I learned law.

When did you start being interested in tattoos? Was it your grandfather who taught you the use of the traditional needles?

Since 1992,but mostly on modern design and using home made electric machine. The traditional way, I learned by theories from the old people from long houses through out Sarawak. Since nobody is practicing it anymore, I can’t learn it technically.

Up until the last century, the Iban people were notorious for practicing headhunting. Was this practice used in rituals (for example, as a rite of passage) or in battle?

Headhunting was for glory and trophy. It’s also to prove manhood and the qualification to get married to certain high ranking women. It was also to control a river and area for cultivation.

Culturally, headhunting was closely associated with tattoos. The practice has stopped for decades now. Are there any older people in the community who used to practice it? And is it appropriate for younger people to have traditional headhunting tattoos (considering that the custom does not exist anymore)?

There are older people that still have that tattoo, which is called ‘entegulun / tegulun’, (placed on the forehand and fingers), but very hard to find. Even in the old days, not all that have killed or joined the headhunting trip will get that tattoo. This was to avoid ‘test’ from people around you or enemy, or become main target for headhunting to steal the soul or power from you. It is not appropriate for anybody to get this tattoo if they never taking head!

How did you decide to set up your own music production company (Borneo Headhunters Music Production) and produce albums? Any news on upcoming albums?

Just to do something different other than tattoo and also to bring something different to the local Dayak music scene, since the industry has been overloaded by the same music style for a couple of decades already. Upcoming album, in the middle of this year, to be titled as ‘Jeanne…dalam mimpiku’.

What are the inspirations for your music?
Anything around us, daily life and other people story of life. Appeal to most of the people in this world.

What exactly was your involvement with the film “Sleeping Dictionary”? Did you make sure that the tattoos in the film were authentic?

I provided the designs of the tattoos and doing consultation on the
placement and usage of the tattoos. And they are authentic.

You have pointed out that a lot of rock stars were fans of Malaysian tattoos. Ever met anyone? I am asking because there is a picture on your website of you with someone who looks a lot like Nikki Six from Motley Crue…

I won’t declare this one, I’m sorry. Yes, it is Nikki Six, but I didn’t tattoo him because was fully booked that time. I have to be fair to the other customers that booked earlier.

I read in an article that you once played with the late, great Noel Redding? How did that happen?

I was in a guitar clinic in England at that time and it was happened that
him was doing the clinic. He asked if anyone wanted to jam with him and
everybody put their hands up including me. He chose me, probably because I ‘m different than the other people in the crowd.

What are your plans for the future?

Enjoy life more, less tattooing, more fishing. What else do I need in
life? I’m happy with my life now.

About the Author: CnB