roots

Hi,

I'm Keh and I am a resident artist at Alpha Omega Studio located on the island of O'ahu, Kingdom of Hawai'i. I currently explore the styles of microrealism, realism, surrealism, contemporary Filipino tattoo, fine line, botanical, and ornamental work.

Growing up in three islands surrounding the Pacific-- Mindanao, Philippines; O'ahu, Hawaii; Unalaska, Alaska-- I witnessed vast differences and likenesses between cultures and relationships. Having lived an uprooted life, I found tattooing as a way of both rooting and rising. Being a descendant of Visayan lineage, my ancestral past involved tattooing as a way to foster community in both the physical and spiritual plane. To reconnect, renew, and mature my understanding of this craft is synonymous to reconnecting, renewing, and maturing my understanding of what it means to be well and to be healthy.

The rich red earth of Philippines, clear blue waters of Hawai'i, and lucid pristine skies of Alaska-- though thousands of oceanic miles from one another-- were occupied by people who were voyagers, practiced tattooing, and sung with the earth not too many generations ago. They (we) were people who knew their mountains by climbing them, and waters by voyaging. The names of our Creators were all but the same with stories and characters wholly different, yet alluded to the same great Mystery.

The Life that moves through my hands are the stuff of my roots and the grace that I'm learning to give. I feel grateful and honored to do the work that I do and witness the lives of people that I get to.

I hope to continue growing the ways in which I can give back through this craft, and it is through your support that these seeds find their nourishment.

To that, I give my deepest thanks.

Keh