Ta MokoTa MokoM A O R I T A T T O O I N GM A O R I T A T T O O I N G

““Ta Moko, which means the art of moko, is worn Ta Moko, which means the art of moko, is worn as a symbol of identity and origin. With lines, as a symbol of identity and origin. With lines, shapes and patterns it tells the story of the shapes and patterns it tells the story of the person within the skin” person within the skin” – www.newzealand.com– www.newzealand.com

Tangata Whenua:Tangata Whenua:The local people of the landThe local people of the land

Around 800 and 1200 AD, the first Polynesian Around 800 and 1200 AD, the first Polynesian settlers arrive in New Zealandsettlers arrive in New Zealand

The Maori people settled where food was prevalent The Maori people settled where food was prevalent -- primarily around the N.E. coastline-- primarily around the N.E. coastline

Europeans follow the whaling trade and purchase Europeans follow the whaling trade and purchase land from the Maori peopleland from the Maori people

By the 1840’s New Zealand has been officially By the 1840’s New Zealand has been officially colonized under British rulecolonized under British rule

Maori Maori MythologyMythology According to myth, the art of tattoo commenced with a love According to myth, the art of tattoo commenced with a love

affair between a young Maori man (Mataora) and a young affair between a young Maori man (Mataora) and a young princess of the Underworld (Niwareka)princess of the Underworld (Niwareka)

Mataora struck Niwareka one day during an argument, so she Mataora struck Niwareka one day during an argument, so she fled to her father’s realm in the Underworldfled to her father’s realm in the Underworld

Mataora followed her out of guilt, sadness, and regret but Mataora followed her out of guilt, sadness, and regret but when he finally got to the Underworld his face paints were when he finally got to the Underworld his face paints were streaked and smeared from the long and difficult journeystreaked and smeared from the long and difficult journey

Niwareka’s family berated Mataora for his messy appearance Niwareka’s family berated Mataora for his messy appearance but he was so humbled that he eventually begged successfully but he was so humbled that he eventually begged successfully for Niwareka’s forgivenessfor Niwareka’s forgiveness

Niwareka’s father taught Mataora the art of tattoo (ta moku) Niwareka’s father taught Mataora the art of tattoo (ta moku) and weaving (taniko) -- skills they would eventually bring back and weaving (taniko) -- skills they would eventually bring back to the human worldto the human world

Ta Moko: the Ta Moko: the processprocess

Tattooing customarily begins around Tattooing customarily begins around puberty and adolescencepuberty and adolescence

Bone chisels or serrated rakes (Uhi Bone chisels or serrated rakes (Uhi Matarau) are first used to carve deep Matarau) are first used to carve deep grooves into the skingrooves into the skin

Flat chisels (Uhi) coated with soot are then Flat chisels (Uhi) coated with soot are then tapped into the grooves with a mallet tapped into the grooves with a mallet (Paatuketuke) to deposit dark pigment (Paatuketuke) to deposit dark pigment (tae)(tae)

Facial tattoos were grooved and textured Facial tattoos were grooved and textured creating a relief on the skincreating a relief on the skin

The best tattoo artists would study their The best tattoo artists would study their subject to determine the shape of the face subject to determine the shape of the face and the best layout for the tattoo design and the best layout for the tattoo design

Moko: Gender DifferencesMoko: Gender Differences Women: received chin tattoos and Women: received chin tattoos and

lip outlines in blue or black; lip outlines in blue or black; sometimes their nostrils would be sometimes their nostrils would be incisedincised

“moko kauae”(cultural chin tattoo)

Men: received extensive facial tattoos that occasionally Men: received extensive facial tattoos that occasionally radiated out onto the back, buttocks, and legsradiated out onto the back, buttocks, and legs

Moko: Gender DifferencesMoko: Gender Differences

The Moko Design . . The Moko Design . . .. Moko designs were contemplated for Moko designs were contemplated for

months before being carried out -- only months before being carried out -- only tribal elders could determine if one had tribal elders could determine if one had the right to wear a Mokothe right to wear a Moko

The Maori Moko designs represent an The Maori Moko designs represent an individual’s identity, tribal history and rank individual’s identity, tribal history and rank in societyin society

No two designs are the same! The No two designs are the same! The patterns are often similar, but the overall patterns are often similar, but the overall design should never be replicateddesign should never be replicated

Moko designs are characterized by Moko designs are characterized by swirling and radiating patterns and design swirling and radiating patterns and design elements that follow the bone structure -- elements that follow the bone structure -- designs with positive and negative space!designs with positive and negative space!

Contemporary Contemporary Moko . . .Moko . . .

Modern Moko is applied with a tattoo machine and lacks Modern Moko is applied with a tattoo machine and lacks the relief of the chiseled tattoosthe relief of the chiseled tattoos

There are generally 3 schools of thought regarding modern There are generally 3 schools of thought regarding modern Moko tattooing on non-Maori people:Moko tattooing on non-Maori people:

1. That it is absolutely disrespectful, wrong, insensitive, and 1. That it is absolutely disrespectful, wrong, insensitive, and insulting -- Moko tattoos belong ONLY on Maori nativesinsulting -- Moko tattoos belong ONLY on Maori natives

2.2. That it is good to have “cultural exposure” if it is done That it is good to have “cultural exposure” if it is done appropriately, and sensitively (books)appropriately, and sensitively (books)

3. That it is OK, acceptable, and appropriate for other 3. That it is OK, acceptable, and appropriate for other cultures to borrow Maori Moko designs, or change their cultures to borrow Maori Moko designs, or change their traditional usestraditional uses

Examples of Moko Examples of Moko

“You may be robbed of all that you cherish. But of your moko, you cannot be deprived, except by death. It will be your ornament and your companion until your final day.”

Netena Whakaari of Waimana, 1921

Examples of Moko Examples of Moko

More examples of modern More examples of modern MokoMoko

How does this relate to How does this relate to DRAWING?DRAWING?

Some things to think about . . .Some things to think about . . .

POSITIVE and NEGATIVE SpacePOSITIVE and NEGATIVE Space

What is the SUBJECT? What is the BACKGROUND?What is the SUBJECT? What is the BACKGROUND?

Flat lines = Flat Space (One-Dimension)Flat lines = Flat Space (One-Dimension)

Curved Lines = Space and Form (Three-Dimensional)Curved Lines = Space and Form (Three-Dimensional)

How can you create TEXTURE with pattern?How can you create TEXTURE with pattern?

How can PATTERN create or give the illusion of FORM?How can PATTERN create or give the illusion of FORM?

OK, What’s Next?!OK, What’s Next?! CREATE 3 original, Maori inspired MOKO TATTOO DESIGNS. CREATE 3 original, Maori inspired MOKO TATTOO DESIGNS.

Each one must be based on some aspect of your life (initials, Each one must be based on some aspect of your life (initials, hobby, favorite place etc…)hobby, favorite place etc…)

FOCUS on pattern, line, shape, form, texture, and positive and FOCUS on pattern, line, shape, form, texture, and positive and negative spacenegative space

THINK about designing your tattoo so that it follows the form THINK about designing your tattoo so that it follows the form of a body part -- Moko designs were intended for the face, of a body part -- Moko designs were intended for the face, arm, back, and leg -- where would your tattoo be placed?arm, back, and leg -- where would your tattoo be placed?

If you’re having trouble creating a design, you may do extra If you’re having trouble creating a design, you may do extra RESEARCH on Ta Moko, but remember, you must make your RESEARCH on Ta Moko, but remember, you must make your designs completely unique and original!designs completely unique and original!

CRAFTSMANSHIP counts! Designs should be crafted in a neat CRAFTSMANSHIP counts! Designs should be crafted in a neat and careful manner so they look professional.and careful manner so they look professional.

ResourceResourcess

BOOKS:BOOKS: Marks of CivilizationMarks of Civilization

By: Arnold RubinBy: Arnold Rubin

Written on the BodyWritten on the Body: : The Tattoo in European and American The Tattoo in European and American HistoryHistory

By: Jane Caplan By: Jane Caplan

Bad Boys and Tough TattoosBad Boys and Tough Tattoos

By: Samuel M. StewardBy: Samuel M. Steward

INTERNET:INTERNET: http://www.tamoko.org.nz/http://www.tamoko.org.nz/ http://history-nz.org/index.htmlhttp://history-nz.org/index.html www.fiu.edu/~harveyb/moko.htmwww.fiu.edu/~harveyb/moko.htm http://www.maoriart.org.nz/noticeboard/te_uhi/linkshttp://www.maoriart.org.nz/noticeboard/te_uhi/links