MAORI AND POLYNESIAN TRIBAL TATTOOS
Return to the origins of tattooing
This style is ideal if you are looking for a design full of symbolism, tradition and personal connectionMaori tattoos are distinguished by their unique geometric patterns that represent the wearer's history, lineage, and values. Each stroke has a purpose and profound meaning, so it's essential to have an artist familiar with this ancient aesthetic. Precision in execution and respect for the wearer's cultural origins are key to achieving an authentic and powerful result.
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The Maori tattoo artists They've gained a lot of popularity in recent years. It's common to see more and more people with these distinctive tribal tattoos, and they seem to be one of the most common choices when it comes to choosing a tattoo design.
The Maori tattoo, also known as “Ta Moko"The tattoo has a long history. It's loaded with identity and cultural value, as well as great artistic quality. In this article, we'll explore its origins and meaning, so you can analyze every detail of the design and learn how to design your next tattoo.
MAORI TATTOOS: MEANING AND ORIGIN
Maori tattoos take on the aesthetics and characteristics of the Polynesian tattoos that members of the tribes of Eastern Polynesia received. For these tribes, receiving a tattoo was a symbol of belonging to a high social status and a distinctive among the other members of the tribe.
The Maori are a ethnic origin of PolynesiaPolynesia is a group of nearly 1,000 islands located in the central and southern Pacific Ocean. It currently comprises four countries: Samoa, Tuvalu, Kiribati, and Tonga, as well as numerous Western dependencies, including French Polynesia, American Samoa, the Cook Islands, and Hawaii, among others.
The territory covers approximately 30 million square kilometers and could be described as a triangle whose vertices are Hawaii, New Zealand, and Easter Island.
TATTOOS LOADED WITH HISTORY
TATTOO ARTISTS SPECIALIZING IN MAORI TATTOOS
The importance of the Maori tattoo in current tattoo culture
It is important to know the influence that indigenous tribes have had of Polynesia in the development of tattooing in the way we know it today.
To begin with, for example, the word tattoo is a adaptation of the indigenous word tau-tau, which is what the native Tahitians called the act of tattooing.
The tattoos They were made with a very sharp fishbone, some small bone or stone too, well sharpened tied to the end of a stick.
This stick was in turn gently hit with another stick, striking the skin. From the sound that this fact emitted (tau, tau) is what is believed to have given rise to the word tattoo.
This technique has been used by different cultures, and although it is attributed as something typical of Maori tattoos, the The Japanese also used a similar technique for centuries..
This technique is usually quite slow and very painful, so a tattoo with traditional tools can last several hours.
The inks used in Maori tattoos were the result of mixing different natural elements to get the pigments. Burned wood was used to get the darkest black. The slightly lighter black was achieved with caterpillars infected with a specific fungus. These were left to dry once they had rotted and then crushed until they had a fine black powder that was mixed with oils.
The "Smart"They were also part of the tattoo ritual. They were a kind of ornate vessels that were valued as family heirloomsThese containers were used to store the ink families made for tattoos. The importance of Okos in Polynesian tribal culture was such that they have been found alongside buried tribal members.
THE MOST COMMON DESIGNS
Curves and spirals are common among Maori tattoos, which, although today are simply another style of tattoo, were once They enjoyed a religious character. Especially when they were used on the face, since it came to symbolize a social status of power. The more portion of the face the tattoo occupied, the better.
The tattoos, They symbolized a ritual and began in adolescence Or even earlier. Over the years, the designs increased in size, reflecting the individual's growth while also recounting some of their experiences.
The practice of Maori tattoo on the face decreased noticeably in the early 1900s, but starting in the 1990s it was known by the general Western public, who were immediately impressed by its unique and characteristic tribal designs and shapes.
Nowadays, we see many people with Polynesian-style Maori tattoos without a clear understanding of their origin and tradition. It's important to gather information and do your research before getting any type of tattoo. But even more so when it's a tattoo. tattoo whose symbolism has been forged over the centuries.
This also happens with others like the Aztecs and the Egyptians, so it is very important to be patient and try to investigate each of the aspects that make up our tattoo.
THE MOST COMMON DESIGNS
As the aesthetics and designs of the Maori tattoo artists, were born new shapes and templatesThe Polynesian tattoo evolved and eventually adapted to the tastes and demands of European and American audiences. Today, most Maori tattoos are on the chest, arms, or back.
Maori tattoos open the game and are adaptable to both those people who are looking for meaning, as well as those who are simply looking for a tattoo as an ornament.
Knowing the meaning and basic shapes of Polynesian tattoos will allow you to think what shapes you want to make up your design.
Among Polynesian tattoos, most have a series of forms based on traditional designs, these are some of the best known:
This spiral It is very characteristic of Maori tattoos, they can form part of a more complete design or constitute only the main piece of the tattoo.
He's got tattoos hey matau It is also known as the hookIt is a traditional Maori symbol that represents prosperity. It was also used to represent strength and determination.
The symbol manaia represents a spiritual guardianIt is a figure composed of the head of a bird, the body of a man and the tail of a fish.
What is the tattoo creation process?
You provide us with the idea What do you have in mind.
We give you budget, After the reservation payment, we begin with your sketch.
We started tattooing.
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