To compliment Dae-Hyeong's art I put together following notes to go with PDF guide on his site.
Notes on Tā moko - face tattoo by Māori, New Zealand's Native People.
This bust can be painted as a traditional (Pre-20th Cent) warrior or modern ceremonial performer.
* Traditional tattooing used a black pigment which appeared dark Blue\Green.
* Modern versions are more green or black in appearance and are often drawn on the skin with a marker pen or in some cases maybe tattooed on.
These online resources can be used to help accurately paint this bust:
*
http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/ta-moko-maori-tattooing/page-1
*
http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/maori-clothing-and-adornment-kakahu-maori
Inspiration and colours can be seen in the European artists:
* Gottfried Lindauer
http://www.lindaueronline.co.nz
* Charles Frederick (C.F.) Goldie
http://www.museumsyndicate.com/artist.php?artist=402
* H.G. Robley - a soldier who catalogued and studied Tā moko
His book "Maori Tattooing" is a classic & much of it can be read on line here:
https://books.google.co.nz/books/about/Maori_Tattooing.html?id=IeMoAwAAQBAJ&redir_esc=y&hl=en
Examples from this book include:
http://www.artworkdg.com/mobile/maori_warrior.html
(See PDF Guide free download here:
Tā moko are very personal and sacred markings.
This illustration shows the sections of it on different parts of the face.
The meaning of each is explained below on the New Zealand Tattoo site:
Information below is taken directly from:
Source:
http://www.zealandtattoo.co.nz/tattoo-styles/maori-tattoos/
The focal point of Maori tattooing was generally the face. Men had full facial tattoos, while women only had their chin, lips and nostrils tattooed. Some Maori also had other parts of the body tattooed, such as their back, buttocks and legs.
Maori tattoo and social status
Only people of rank or status were allowed to have, and could afford to have, tattoos. A person who did not have any high-ranking social status, such as a slave, could not have a face tattoo. Those who had the means to get a tattoo but did not were seen as people of lower social status.
The Maori facial tattoo was not only seen as a sign of rank though, but was also used as a kind of identification card. For men, their face tattoo showed their accomplishments, status, position, ancestry and marital status. It is considered highly insulting to be unable to recognise a person’s power and position by his moko.
The male facial moko or tattoo is generally divided into eight sections of the face:
* The centre of the forehead called the ngakaipikirau, designated a person’s general rank
* The area under the brows, called ngunga, designated his position
* The area around his eyes and nose, uirere, designated his hapu, or sub-tribe rank
* The area around the temples, uma, served to detail his marital status, like the number of marriages he had
* The area under the nose, raurau, displayed the man’s signature that was once memorised by tribal chiefs who used it when buying property, signing deeds and officiating orders
* The cheek area, or taiohou, showed the nature of the person’s work
* The chin area, wairua, showed the person’s mana or prestige
* Lastly, the jaw area or taitoto designated a person’s birth status
It can also be noted that a person’s ancestry is indicated on each side of the face. The left side is generally the father’s side and the right side the mother’s. Noble or note-worthy descent was a primary requirement before a moko was undertaken.
If one side of a person’s ancestry was not of rank, the corresponding side of the face would not have any design tattooed on it. And if the person undertaking the moko has no rank, or is not heir to anything of note then the centre of the forehead would be left without design.
Source:
http://www.zealandtattoo.co.nz/tattoo-styles/maori-tattoos/
Well done and congratulations. Always good to see excellent work appreciated.
