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“Tatau: Marks of Polynesia,” at the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles July 30-Jan. 8, looks at the Samoan practice of tattoo and how the patterns and motifs of these works of art help preserve the culture. The show will feature examples of traditional Samoan tattoo, or tatau, along with contemporary Polynesian works and other pieces that have been influenced by the tradition.
“The main basic reason that the exhibit is at the Japanese American National Museum is for civil rights,” “Tatau” curator Takahiro Kitamura said. “This actually fits very well with JANM’s mission statement, because here we’re talking about an art form that helped the Samoan people keep their identity together back then, and even now it affirms identity. Samoa is a very unique population when half of the Samoans in the world live in Samoa, the other half live in the United States, New Zealand.. Hawaii, Guam and other places.”
Kitamura is a master tattoo artist and author who curated “Perseverance: Japanese Tattoo Tradition in a Modern World” for JANM in 2014.
TATAU IS 2,000 YEARS OLD
Samoa’s tradition of tattoo dates back 2,000 years, Kitamura said. The Samoan custom has survived many attempts at eradication, because the islanders kept the designs and patterns alive by incorporating them into other art mediums.
“Samoa, for one reason or another, manages to hold onto their traditions very closely. Some of the other islands have not fared so well. Currently I think we’re in a very good place because a lot of people are having cultural resurgences,” Kitamura said. “Right now there’s a seamless blending of tattooing, religion and Samoan culture.”
PHOTOS HIGHLIGHT EXHIBIT
It took two years for Kitamura to put “Tatau” together, which consists mainly of photographs by John Agcaoili of tattoo artists at work and people with their completed designs. There will also be artifacts and tools associated with tattooing on display.
The exhibit focuses on traditional Samoan and contemporary Polynesian tattoos with the emphasis on the tattoo artists of the Sulu’ape family, such as Petelo Sulu’ape and his late brother Paul Sulu’ape, who are credited with sparking the global resurgence of Samoan tattoos.
CONNECTION IS KEY
Kitamura and Liufau hope that visitors to “Tatau” will not only appreciate the beauty and history of the Samoan art form of tattoo, but also see how its worldwide spread serves to preserve culture.
SCHEDULE
When: 11 a.m.- 5 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday-Sunday and noon-8 p.m. Thursday July 30-Jan. 8.
Where: Japanese American National Museum, 100 N. Central Ave., Los Angeles.
