Maori carving at Hamilton Gardens. View on black
Striking images, taken by New Zealand's first ever photographer, Elizabeth Pulman, depict the way of life of the Maori, including their unique method of tattooing the face called ta moko, shown.
For New Zealand Maori women, the moko kauae, or traditional female chin tattoo, is considered a physical manifestation of their true identity. It is believed every Maori woman wears a moko on the inside, close to their heart; when they are ready, the tattoo artist simply brings it out to the surface. The Maori are indigenous people that originated in New Zealand. They have a form of body art, known as moko but more commonly referred to as Maori tattooing. The art form was brought to the Maori from Polynesia and is considered highly sacred. Since the Maori people consider the head to be the most sacred part of the body, the most popular kind of Maori tattoo was the facial tattoo, which was composed of curved shapes and spiral like patterns. Often this tattoo covered the whole face and was a symbol of rank, social status, power and prestige. For Maori, tattooing was (and for some, still is) a rite of passage, which meant it was highly revered and ritualised. The tattooing would begin usually during adolescence. The great thing about Maori tattoos is that to this day, no two tattoos are alike. Maori tattoos are one of a kind. They are always highly intricate and detailed and display the craftsmanship and artistry of not only the artist but of the Maori culture.
The late 19th and early 20th century photographs show some of the last Maori women to wear the traditional ta moko face marking in New Zealand before it was outlawed by British colonialists.
New Zealand was one of the last landmasses to be colonized by humans. When Pleistocene megafauna had gone extinct elsewhere in the world, New Zealand was still inhabited by the moas, giant flightless birds that were hunted by early Maori settlers.
Little Maori Girl in Whakarewarewa Thermal Maori Village, Rotorua, New Zealand
Maori symbols are highly meaningful and were used to record their history, beliefs, legends, and spiritual values.
Australian archaeologists have examined prehistoric obsidian tools from the Nanngu site in the Solomon Islands and have determined they may have been used for tattooing people. The 3,000-year-old chips of volcanic glass-like rock have residues of ochre, charcoal and blood and traces of wear that the researchers replicated by using other pieces of obsidian to make tattoos on pigskin.
Photographer Jimmy Nelson captures some of the rarest, almost extinct traces of true humanity - a life that lies within 27 most unique tribes of the world, that are slowly dying away. So have a last l
This art piece belongs in our Wahine series creative directing and concept by ADRIENNE WHITEWOOD - beautifully shot by Amanda Ashton Models are Micaiah Jones and Stella Maris. Inspired by the postcards I saw of the guides of Whakarewarewa I loved imitating the obvious romanticism of the models and ever changing ideal of what Maori looks like in todays world. This image inspired by the Hongi (breath of life) Aroha Mai Aroha Atu (Love given love received) a beautiful postcard to send to a friend or frame in a set! Laser printed in Rotorua on 300gsm card size A5 148 x 210mm Envelope not included back is a beautiful bunch of fuchsia roses.
Matariki – the Māori New Year – will take place on Pipiri 6 June 2016. During Matariki we celebrate our unique place in the world. We give respect to the whenua on which we live, and ad…
Photographer Jimmy Nelson captures the lives and traditions of the last surviving tribes around the world through these portraits in his project, called Before They Pass Away.
Ce que signifie se faire tatouer son identité sur la tête.
The late 19th and early 20th century photographs show some of the last Maori women to wear the traditional ta moko face marking in New Zealand before it was outlawed by British colonialists.
Entre tradition et évolution, le peuple Maori est un exemple de conservatisme civilisationnel doublé d’une évolution sociale influencée.
Author Julian Evans revisits the South Pacific for an island-hopping adventure by boat
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki has announced the largest exhibition in its 132-year history.
Tutti conosciamo i tatuaggi Maori, ma quanti di noi sanno delle origini, delle leggende e dei significati di questi disegni complicatissimi? Scopri di più
Jimmy Nelson, photographe de renom, est un idéaliste, un esthète. En célébrant la beauté et la singularité de communautés des endroits éloignés de la Planète, il veut nous sensibiliser à une...
Striking images, taken by New Zealand's first ever photographer, Elizabeth Pulman, depict the way of life of the Maori, including their unique method of tattooing the face called ta moko, shown.
