Artist of different kinds – Philippine Canadian Inquirer

If artwork could be numerous, then so can the artist.

Expressing his creativity, emotions, and feelings in numerous kinds, this artist isn’t a one-trick pony.

The particular person he wished to be

Mayo Landicho is a painter, singer-songwriter, and an award-winning tattoo artist who hails from San Pablo, Laguna within the Philippines. On the age of 5, Mayo had already set a watch on his future objective and knew how he was going to succeed in it, regardless of his struggles rising up in an enormous household of 10. 

He found this objective when he noticed a drawing of his older brother that left a powerful impression on him. Impressed by his sibling’s work, Mayo started drawing, with pencil and crayons as his first artwork media, till he discovered himself continually doing it.

His canvas would principally present abstracts, landscapes, and portraits which are both based mostly on what he would see in his on a regular basis life or in his thoughts’s eye.

In the midst of brushing up his expertise and exploring extra about artwork, he realized one other type of it the place he can talk his “deepest emotions and feelings.”

Music.

Describing himself as a shy particular person, it’s by way of his artworks that he will get to specific himself extra. Nevertheless, the phrases of his interior self might be heard by way of his musical composition and unfeigned lyrics. Music broadened Mayo’s horizon and it made him convey his artwork from the canvas to a music sheet.

It was throughout his school days when Mayo shaped his first band whose music principally consisted of rock, unique alternate options, and rock ‘n roll. They’d carry out at their college, in occasions reminiscent of birthday events and their city festivals. 

“Often, we do covers and once in a while unique songs. I would like the listeners to know the story behind the lyrics we write and really feel feelings by way of the melody we play.”

After graduating, he signed as a recording artist of Polycosmic Information and Octo Arts with Pointblank Band. He then grew to become a trainer for highschool and school college students for 2 years and, in a while, labored on the loans division in a financial institution. 

Although he was doing instructing and company jobs, Mayo didn’t take a break from music. He spent his free time both taking part in musical devices by himself or jamming along with his pals.

He dreamed of taking his artwork past the ocean, which got here true when he steered the wheel of his profession in the direction of Canada in 1999.

Being a part of Canada

To change into a part of a spot of alternative and progress was Mayo’s purpose why he selected emigrate to Canada. His need to construct a household there and provides them a greater life changed into actuality when he married his spouse and had their daughter in 2003.

Canada gave him the thrill to fulfill new faces, construct new relationships, and create new experiences. However whereas there are tons of alternatives, his new atmosphere additionally examined him.

“It was the survival of the fittest. Canada was such a unique atmosphere in comparison with the Philippines.”

As an immigrant, there have been heaps of stumbles, nevertheless, the toughest one for Mayo was getting employed. He took part-time jobs doing props, murals, and occasion posters, after which taking part in music on the aspect. His first job was at a quick meals restaurant, then to a printing store, and to the auto trade.

It took him a while to regulate to his environment. Though he nonetheless struggled once in a while, this was outweighed by the various alternatives supplied to him in Canada which he mentioned he by no means considered having again within the Philippines.

In his new residence, Mayo might additionally discover extra of its cultural range; there have been so many issues he might be taught from numerous individuals, together with their arts, music, and landscapes. Every day was additionally one other journey for him as he enjoys outdoor-related actions, reminiscent of mountain climbing, working, and biking in his additional time, visiting vacationer spots, and making an attempt various kinds of delicacies.

Whereas ticking off his guidelines of issues to do and greedy data on completely different cultural backgrounds in Canada, Mayo proudly launched the wealthy tradition of his motherland.

No matter an unlimited change in his environment, he’s nonetheless very a lot a Filipino. Mayo confirmed his identification from the meals he cooks and eats, garments he wears, holidays he celebrates, and the music he listens to. 

He’s additionally a member of Filipino-Canadian organizations, together with Dimasalang Artist Group, San Pablo Affiliation in British Columbia, and the Katara Cultural Group.

“As a proud Filipino, I incorporate my heritage with every part I do. I wouldn’t commerce it for something on the earth.

Whereas discovering the multicultural society he’s in, Mayo, in return, shares to others a singular a part of the Philippine tradition.

Tattooing life tales

Again within the Philippines, Mayo additionally realized tattooing when he was a youngster. At first, he was solely doing it for enjoyable till it made a reputation internationally. 

Mayo recalled how his pals inspired him to take a step additional in tattooing once they noticed the potential he has. He believed in his capabilities and considered tattooing as a method for him to maintain his identification and heritage.

“My function as being a tattoo artist is to do greater than tattooing, however creating my very own types, and protect and promote our very personal distinctive model of tattooing referred to as ‘Batok’ all over the world.”

“Batok” is a standard artwork of tattooing within the Philippines, by which ink is positioned into the pores and skin by hand-tapping it utilizing a thorn and bamboo stick. Mayo personally realized “pagbabatok” from the famend tattoo artist of Kalinga, Whang-Od. 

To meet his function as a tattoo artist, Mayo constructed Birthmark Tattoos in 2010, which is now recognized to many as “Vancouver’s greatest stored secret.” It was referred to as Birthmark Tattoos as a result of Mayo believes that when an individual will get a tattoo, they’re “reborn with a brand new birthmark” inscribed in them on this lifetime.

However what makes Birthmark Tattoos stand out? Except for the tattooing methodology it makes use of, the designs they customise for purchasers are one in every of a form; tattoos which are near the consumer’s coronary heart as a result of these are based mostly on the “story” of their life.

“I free-hand numerous my work. I avoid any current designs and do my very own.”

“I really like the delight I really feel [whenever I’m tattooing]. I discovered that it’s an honor to have the ability to be blessed to proceed my methodology of tattooing, share my work with my purchasers, and put it on their physique completely.”

Having been doing this for greater than a decade, Mayo’s designs reached and engraved the pores and skin of well-known personalities reminiscent of celebrities, sports activities figures, and native and worldwide tattoo artists. His masterpieces additionally gained him a number of awards, together with the highest prize on the Westcoast Tattoo Present 2012 and Westrock Tattoo Conference in 2013, and the first and 2nd Place award for the “Finest Tribal” tattoos on the City Tattoo Conference held in New York in 2015.

Artwork media and music notes

As he imprints his personal interpretation and magnificence of 1’s story on their our bodies, he didn’t neglect to inform about his personal by way of his canvas and music.

Outdoors Birthmark Tattoos, if not doing outside actions, Mayo could be seen portray. 

Utilizing acrylic oil, charcoal, watercolor, or tattoo ink, he would principally paint indigenous patterns which, Mayo mentioned, represents him and his cultural background.

Nature additionally turns into his topic as an outdoorsy who endlessly admires each side of it. For this reason becoming a member of the How Inexperienced Is Your Muse (HGIYM)? exhibit meant a lot for Mayo. The exhibit occurred in 2019 on the Surrey Artwork Gallery, the place 12 Filipino-Canadians artists, together with Mayo, took half in to present homage to Mom Nature.

“This holds a really particular place in my coronary heart as a result of this raises consciousness about points concerning the atmosphere and the circumstances it’s in; that we have to continually remind everybody to care for our mom earth.”

His music, in the meantime, has been heard by extra individuals as he carried out in quite a few events like Philippine Pageant in Vancouver Arts Gallery, Philippine Independence Day occasion, Surrey Pinoy Festivals, all held in 2020, and was the opening act on the live performance of the famend Filipino singer and songwriter Arnel Pineda on the Vogue Theater in Vancouver. Other than these, he did a tour in Singapore and Malaysia.

Mayo additionally has a YouTube account named “Birthmark Tattoos by Mayo” the place he uploads his music performances.

He needs to craft work and write lyrics extra and current these to a wider viewers by taking part in lots of conventions, displays, and live shows quickly. 

Mayo certainly traversed into the artwork world and located canvas and paints, lyrics and chords, bamboo stick and ink as his devices to convey to others his creativeness, feelings, different individuals’s tales, and issues he discovers within the wilderness.