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Tatau: Sāmoan Tattoo, New Zealand Art, Global Culture

The story of Sāmoan tattoo art and the work of Su‘a Sulu‘ape Paulo II.

By Sean Mallon, Nicholas Thomas, and Peter Brunt, photographs by Mark Adams

Publication: May 2023
Pages: 308
Format: Hardback
ISBN: 978-1-99-115098-1

RRP: $75

BuyTatau: Sāmoan Tattoo, New Zealand Art, Global Culture

When Tatau was first published in 2010, Mark Adams’ renowned images documenting a great Polynesian art tradition were a revelation. It told the story of the late Sulu‘ape Paulo II, the pre-eminent figure of modern Sāmoan tattooing. A brilliantly innovative and often controversial man, he saw tatau as an art of international importance. Tatau documented his practice, and that of other , in the contexts of Polynesian tattooing, Sāmoan migrant communities and New Zealand art.

Long out-of-print, this revised and extended new edition, with its handsome large format and texts by distinguished scholars, makes a cultural treasure available once more.

Review highlights

Author interviews

  • Peter Brunt interviewed in New Zealand Herald’s Canvas magazine

  • Peter Brunt interviewed on 531PI.

  • Peter Brunt interviewed on Radio Samoa.

About the contributors

Publication: May 2023
Pages: 308
Format: Hardback
ISBN: 978-1-99-115098-1

RRP: $75
BuyTatau: Sāmoan Tattoo, New Zealand Art, Global Culture