Polynesian Tattoo Art

Bold, black ink, abstract geometrical shapes, immensely appealing aesthetics and tangible symbolism are all attributes of the Polynesian tattoo style; it’s not too hard to see how it’s moved from decorating just a few hundred tribespeople on a scattering of tiny islands into one of the most respected and popular genres of tattoo art – the Polynesian style is easily one of the most flattering styles of ink with which to decorate the human body. There are technically originally two classifications of Polynesian tattoo; Enata designs, which were first meant to denote your identity and lifestyle. Enata designs would reveal your birthplace, social class and profession. Etua designs, the second time, have spiritual, magical connotations, made to honour and take protection from the Gods. A tattoo had meaning not only in relation to it’s own style and form but also in relation to where it was placed on the body. Tattoo crafting, styles and meanings also varied from island to island. Nowadays there is a large collection of signature Polynesian images that recur frequently as symbolism-laden tattoos in our modern-day ink culture. Examples include Tiki – a god who is most often drawn with his eyes closed, as allegedly he can smell trouble before he sees it! Shells are allusions to wealth, having once been a form of currency to the Polynesian tribes; Sharks’ teeth and Shark tattoos denote protection and Turtles symbolize fertility and long life. Geckos were meant to be closely tied to the supernatural world and often occur as tattoos in Polynesian designs. Contemporary Polynesia is proud of its tattoo art and history, and there is now a convention held annually on Raiatea, a sacred island, that assembles Polynesian tattoo masters from around the world. It was first held in the year 2000. Polynesian tattoo artists do not operate in the ‘traditional’ manner of many tattoo artists by keeping Flash designs for a client to reference or even pick directly from – the process of choosing a tattoo is instead done by the artist themselves, in relation to your own account of what you want your tattoo to say and your own personal history. There is a strong cultural belief that the tattoo must be uniquely tailored to each unique individual. The best artists to find for Polynesian tattoos currently include Carl Cocker of Kalia Tattoo, Australia, Samuel Shaw of Farsyde Tattoo, Hawaii and Dave Latora of Class Act Tattoo, Florida.