Ta Moko

The native people. of New Zealand. (Maori). are world famous The native people of New Zealand (Maori) are world famous for their tattooing.

Why They Do This The designs denote the rank of members of the tribe. Men that had no decoration were shunned by the tribe. It showed a tolerance for pain.

What Is It Permanent body and face markings. The skin was carved by chisels rather than punctured. Ink was then rubbed in. Skin is left with grooves, rather than a smooth surface.

New Zealand Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fddhTSiuIgo&feature=related

The Pain The tattoos were made in a very painstakingly difficult manner. Drawn first with charcoal, carved in with a bone chisel, and then ink rubbed into the cuts. The process took several days or weeks depending on how long the patient could take the pain. They could not eat and had to have feeding tubes to consume liquid.

The Maori Women The women were limited to designs around the lips and the chin.

Unusual Customs The Maori men only tattooed their faces, thighs and buttocks. They removed and preserved the heads of their tattooed chiefs after death. These heads would stay with the family and be an honored possession.

Key Points In Drawing Moko Designs Symmetrical - Balanced proportion. A close agreement in size, shape, and relative position of parts arranged on opposite sides of a dividing line. Unity - A principle of design that relates to a work of art whose many different parts seem to connect well to one another. Positive/Negative Reversal - The perception of shapes in a work of art that alternate between positive and negative identities.

A Step by Step Drawing of a Maori Moko Design

Create ½ head outline on the edge of a piece of poster board. Cut template out.

Outline 1/2 face template on the edge of transparent paper. Indicate where the eye, nose, and mouth would be.

Draw shapes, curves, spirals, etc. Pieces should “fit” one another. Fill up 1/2 face. Draw very heavy in pencil.

Flip image over and position on drawing paper. Tape down transparent paper. Draw heavily with pencil over all lines and shapes.

Turn face up. Match lines along center and edges. Tape down. Retrace original drawing.

Use black sharpie marker to fill in background (negative space). Shapes (positive space) will remain white.

Decorate with gel pens, prismacolors, colored markers, and/or chalk pastel.

The Maori Now Since 1990 there has been a resurgence in the practice of moko for both men and women. It is a sign of cultural identity and direction. Most moko done today are done with a tattoo machine, leaving the skin smooth. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiIqDqd3tX4