Tatau: Tatau Sāmoa ma ata puʻe - Tatau: Sāmoan Tattooing and Photography

Tatau: Tatau Sāmoa ma ata puʻe - Tatau: Sāmoan Tattooing and Photography

Mark Adams, John Agcaoili, Greg Semu, Angela Tiatia

Museum of New Zealand - Te Papa Tongarewa
55 Cable Street, Wellington

09 November 2019 - 07 June 2020 Extended until 8th November

Exhibition now open again after Covid-19 lockdown

Read review by Tusiata Avia for Pantograph Punch

Opening Day: Talk and Public Photo Shoot
Saturday 09 Nov 2019, 10.00am–12.00pm
Tour the exhibition with curator Sean Mallon and artists Angela Tiatia, Mark Adams, and John Agcaoili – and have your own tattoos photographed!

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Pain. Identity. Innovation. Experience Sāmoan tattooing through the lenses of four photographers – across time, in Sāmoa, Aotearoa New Zealand, and beyond. You’ll also hear about tatau’s significance from those who wear these sacred markings.

Greg Semu, Front of pe‘a, Nouma Kiriau, 1994, gelatin silver print. Purchased 2019. Te Papa (TMP035038)

John Agcaoili, Tattooing by Sulu‘ape Si'i Liufau, 2016, print. Purchased 2019. Image courtesy of the artist. Te Papa (TMP035059)

Mark Adams, Farwood Drive, Henderson, west Auckland Tattooing Uli Tufuga tatatau: Su‘a Tavui Pasina Iosefo Ah Ken, 1982, print. Image courtesy of the artist. Te Papa (TMP036153)

Angela Tiatia, Walking the Wall, 2014, digital video. Purchased 2017. Te Papa (2017-0019-1/1-8 to 8-8)