Kuia Mau Moko: Photographs by Marti Friedlander

The last generation of Māori women to receive the unbroken tradition of female tattooing. Host this touring exhibition at your venue.

Kuia Mau Moko: Photographs by Marti Friedlander presents 29 black-and-white photographs of Māori kuia

  kuiaelderly womenMāori | Noun
 who were the last generation to receive the unbroken tradition of moko kauae

  moko kauaefemale tattooing, mostly on the chinMāori | Noun
in the 1920s.

The photographs were taken in the late 1960s and early 1970s for use in historian Michael King’s book Moko: Māori tattooing in the 20th century – a time when it was believed the sun had set on this ancient tradition.

The photographs tell a story of resilience, loss, and sorrow for a way of life that was fast slipping away. Within two decades though, moko kauae would begin a quiet revival. Today hundreds of Māori women proudly bear the moko

  mokotattooMāori | Noun
of their ancestors – connecting the past with the present.

The photos were gifted to Te Papa in 2009 from the Gerrard and Marti Friedlander Charitable Trust.

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Caption

‘Herepo Rongo’ from the series ‘The Moko Suite’, 1970, New Zealand, by Marti Friedlander. Gift of The Gerrard and Marti Friedlander Charitable Trust, 2009. Te Papa (O.033713)

Touring exhibition venues

Kuia Mau Moko: Photographs by Marti Friedlander is available as a touring exhibition now.

Tairawhiti Museum, Gisborne

10 Jul – 23 Aug 2015

Aratoi Wairarapa Museum of Art and History, Masterton

18 Sep – 15 Nov 2015

Rotorua Museum Te Whare Taonga o Te Arawa, Rotorua

21 Nov 2015 – 17 Jan 2016

Waitara Library, Waitara

27 Feb – 10 Apr 2016

Waikato Museum Te Whare Taonga o Waikato, Hamilton

23 Apr – 29 May 2016

Planning to visit? Check the venue website for confirmed dates.

Hosting enquiries

Jake Yocum, Touring Exhibition Manager
Email:touringexhibitions@tepapa.govt.nz