Tattoo studios in Kalimantan Island, like Balikpapan tattoo studio, are familiar with iconic motifs of Dayak culture. Bunga terung motif, for example, is beautiful and meaningful in its simplicity. While the actual patterns have a deep meaning for the native people of Kalimantan, the basic patterns allow the creation of multiple variations.
Balikpapan, a coastal city in East Kalimantan, is a destination to find work for people from other areas in Indonesia. Tattoo studios that offer traditional motifs have become popular among local and foreign clients interested in.
Get Bunga Terung Motif at Balikpapan Tattoo Studio?
Bunga terung means eggplant flower, referring to the flowers of the Solanum melongena plant. The titular motif is a part of the tattoo tradition of native Dayak people in West Kalimantan (Borneo) and Sarawak, especially Dayak Kayan and Dayak Iban.
Iban people especially believe that Batara, the creator figure, and their ancestors would not recognize a spirit without a tattoo. Therefore, every motif contains a special meaning that communicates someone’s role. Bunga terung is a popular motif among men of Kayan and Iban.
The basic shape of the bunga terung motif is a circular flower with six to eight petals. From here, tattoo artists can get creative with the petals’ shapes and the flowers’ “eyes “. The shape is also easily replicated in various sizes and details, making it a popular pattern at Balikpapan tattoo studio.
The Meaning of Bunga Terung
Traditionally, bunga terung motif has different meanings depending on the numbers, shapes, and their locations. However, in general, this motif is associated with achievements and strength. Among the people of Iban, bunga terung tattoos are usually sported by men.
Here are several meanings of this tattoo motif:
Resilience
Bunga terung refers to the resilience of eggplant, a plant that can grow quite easily. Using this motif shows one’s strength and ability to adapt to various situations, no matter where they live or travel to.
Power and Protection
Many men traditionally have a bunga terung motif tattooed on their shoulders. They symbolize the power to protect one’s family and provide for them. The flowers on the shoulders are symbolic, representing the burdens the owners carry to provide and protect.
Wisdom
Some traditional tattoo motifs are created around the waist, adding little flowers periodically. They symbolize wisdom earned from age and life experiences. The more flowers added around the waist, the more wisdom and experiences that person has gained. People with higher or special statuses may have these tattoos on their necks instead.
Knowledge and Intuition
Bunga terung may symbolize knowledge and intuition one earns from years of learning, traveling, or experiencing many things in life. The numbers of tattoos reflect the level of knowledge and intuition they possess.
In traditional societies, this flower motif is worn by people with special positions or statuses. However, you can now see this motif as one of the most popular Dayak-inspired tattoos in the Balikpapan tattoo studio (and other areas in Kalimantan).
How to Use This Motif as A Tattoo
The modern version of bunga terung tattoo is not only popular among men but also women. The flower motif is beautiful in its simplicity, and the artists can create unique interpretations based on the basic design. Many people love following traditional examples, having one flower tattooed on each of their shoulders.
Alternatively, you can tattoo each of these flowers on your front shoulder, flanking your chest and close to your armpits. Some artists may offer simple, solid forms, while others add intricate details to the flowers. However, even if you stick with the simpler, more traditional motifs, they will still add unique visual elements to your skin.
For a more dramatic look, have one flower tattooed on the front or the back of your neck. You can also have two identical tattoos on each of your upper arms, lower arms, shins, and thighs. If you like showing off the skin of the lower body, follow the traditional example by having smaller bunga terung motifs tattooed around your waist.
What about the color? Many people seem to love sticking to the original style of Dayak tattoos, which use simple black. You can opt for other colors, but sticking with black is a way to keep the motif authentic. Even if you use the simplest flower motifs, the solid black color will create a unique, distinctive and traditional look.
Getting Your Own Dayak-style Tattoos
Want to have your Dayak-style tattoos? Find a professional tattoo studio that offers a private, high-quality session. Make sure the artists are professionals with broad knowledge about tattoo traditions, including the ones inspired by the native culture of Kalimantan.
Book your session at the Ink Satire Bali Private Tattoo Studio to get exclusive sessions with professional tattoo artists. Witness exquisite artistry for every tattoo idea you have in mind, including Dayak-inspired ones, with beautiful details and colors. If you love the bunga terung motif and its meaning, you will love the result of our tattoo artists’ works.