Mayo Landicho: Artist of different kinds

If art can be diverse, then so can the artist.

Expressing his creativity, feelings, and emotions in various forms, this artist is not a one-trick pony.

The person he wanted to be

Mayo Landicho is a painter, singer-songwriter, and an award-winning tattoo artist who hails from San Pablo, Laguna in the Philippines. At the age of five, Mayo had already set an eye on his future goal and knew how he was going to reach it, despite his struggles growing up in a big family of 10. 

He discovered this goal when he saw a drawing of his older brother that left a strong impression on him. Impressed by his sibling’s work, Mayo began drawing, with pencil and crayons as his first art media, until he found himself constantly doing it.

His canvas would mostly show abstracts, landscapes, and portraits that are either based on what he would see in his everyday life or in his mind’s eye.

In the course of brushing up his skills and exploring more about art, he learned another form of it where he can communicate his “deepest feelings and emotions.”

Music.

Describing himself as a shy person, it is through his artworks that he gets to express himself more. However, the words of his inner self could be heard through his musical composition and unfeigned lyrics. Music broadened Mayo’s horizon and it made him bring his art from the canvas to a music sheet.

It was during his college days when Mayo formed his first band whose music mostly consisted of rock, original alternatives, and rock ‘n roll. They would perform at their school and in events such as birthday parties and their town festivals. 

“Usually, we do covers and from time to time original songs. I want the listeners to know the story behind the lyrics we write and feel emotions through the melody we play.”

After graduating, he signed as a recording artist of Polycosmic Records and Octo Arts with Pointblank Band. He then became a teacher for high school and college students for two years and, later on, worked at the loans department in a bank. 

Even though he was doing teaching and corporate jobs, Mayo did not take a break from music. He spent his free time either playing musical instruments by himself or jamming with his friends.

He dreamed of taking his art beyond the sea, which came true when he steered the wheel of his career towards Canada in 1999.

Being part of Canada

To become part of a place of opportunity and growth was Mayo’s reason why he chose to migrate to Canada. His desire to build a family there and give them a better life turned into reality when he married his wife and had their daughter in 2003.

Canada gave him the excitement to meet new faces, build new relationships, and create new experiences. But while there are tons of opportunities, his new environment also tested him.

“It was the survival of the fittest. Canada was such a different environment compared to the Philippines.”

As an immigrant, there were heaps of stumbles, however, the hardest one for Mayo was getting employed. He took part-time jobs doing props, murals, and event posters, and then playing music on the side. His first job was at a fast food restaurant, then to a printing shop, and to the automobile industry.

It took him some time to adjust to his surroundings. Although he still struggled from time to time, this was outweighed by the many opportunities offered to him in Canada which, he said, he never thought of having back in the Philippines.

In his new home, Mayo could also explore more of its cultural diversity; there were so many things he could learn from various people, including their arts, music, and landscapes. Each day was also another adventure for him as he enjoys outdoor-related activities, such as hiking, running, and cycling in his extra time, visiting tourist spots, and trying different types of cuisine.

While ticking off his checklist of things to do and grasping knowledge on different cultural backgrounds in Canada, Mayo proudly introduced the rich culture of his motherland.

Regardless of a vast change in his surroundings, he is still very much a Filipino. Mayo showed his identity from the food he cooks and eats, clothes he wears, holidays he celebrates, and the music he listens to. 

He is also a member of Filipino-Canadian organizations, including Dimasalang Artist Group, San Pablo Association in British Columbia, and the Katara Cultural Group.

“As a proud Filipino, I incorporate my heritage with everything I do. I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world.

While discovering the multicultural society he is in, Mayo, in return, shares to others a unique part of the Philippine culture.

Tattooing life stories

Back in the Philippines, Mayo also learned tattooing when he was a teenager. At first, he was only doing it for fun until it made a name internationally. 

Mayo recalled how his friends encouraged him to take a step further in tattooing when they saw the potential he has. He believed in his capabilities and thought of tattooing as a way for him to keep his identity and heritage.

“My purpose as being a tattoo artist is to do more than tattooing, but creating my own styles, and preserve and promote our very own unique style of tattooing called ‘Batok’ around the world.”

“Batok” is a traditional art of tattooing in the Philippines, in which ink is placed into the skin by hand-tapping it using a thorn and bamboo stick. Mayo personally learned “pagbabatok” from the renowned tattoo artist of Kalinga, Whang-Od. 

To fulfill his purpose as a tattoo artist, Mayo built Birthmark Tattoos in 2010, which is now known to many as “Vancouver’s best kept secret.” It was called Birthmark Tattoos because Mayo believes that when a person gets a tattoo, they are “reborn with a new birthmark” inscribed in them in this lifetime.

But what makes Birthmark Tattoos stand out? Aside from the tattooing method it uses, the designs they customize for clients are one of a kind; tattoos that are close to the client’s heart because those are based on the “story” of their life.

“I free-hand a lot of my work. I stay away from any existing designs and do my own.”

“I love the pride I feel [whenever I’m tattooing]. I found that it’s an honor to be able to be blessed to continue my method of tattooing, share my work with my clients, and put it on their body permanently.”

Having been doing this for more than a decade, Mayo’s designs reached and engraved the skin of well-known personalities such as celebrities, sports figures, and local and international tattoo artists. His masterpieces also won him multiple awards, including the top prize at the Westcoast Tattoo Show 2012 and Westrock Tattoo Convention in 2013, and the 1st and 2nd Place award for the “Best Tribal” tattoos at the Urban Tattoo Convention held in New York in 2015.

Art media and music notes

As he imprints his own interpretation and style of one’s story on their body, he did not forget to tell about his own through his canvas and music.

Outside Birthmark Tattoos, if not doing outdoor activities, Mayo can be seen painting. 

Using acrylic oil, charcoal, watercolor, or tattoo ink, he would mostly paint indigenous patterns which, Mayo said, represents him and his cultural background.

Nature also becomes his subject as an outdoorsy who endlessly admires every aspect of it. This is why joining the How Green Is Your Muse (HGIYM)? exhibit meant so much for Mayo. The exhibit happened in 2019 at the Surrey Art Gallery, where 12 Filipino-Canadians artists, including Mayo, took part in to give homage to Mother Nature.

“This holds a very special place in my heart because this raises awareness about issues regarding the environment and the conditions it’s in; that we need to constantly remind everyone to take care of our mother earth.”

His music, meanwhile, has been heard by more people as he performed on numerous occasions like Philippine Festival in Vancouver Arts Gallery, Philippine Independence Day event, Surrey Pinoy Festivals, all held in 2020, and was the opening act at the concert of the renowned Filipino singer and songwriter Arnel Pineda at the Vogue Theater in Vancouver. Apart from these, he did a tour in Singapore and Malaysia.

Mayo also has a YouTube account named “Birthmark Tattoos by Mayo” where he uploads his music performances.

He wishes to craft paintings and write lyrics more and present these to a wider audience by participating in many conventions, exhibits, and concerts soon. 

Mayo indeed traversed into the art world and found canvas and paints, lyrics and chords, bamboo stick and ink as his instruments to convey to others his imagination, emotions, other people’s stories, and things he discovers in the wilderness.