Fa’avaetuli: Like the Feet of Tuli: Samoan Tatau as a Travelling Practice

Abstract

The aim of this thesis is to position Samoan tatau as a travelling practice through an investigation of tatau practice both in relation to its origins, significance and practice in Samoa as well as within the Samoan diaspora, with specific reference to the Samoan communities of New Zealand. It is demonstrated that tatau as inherently intertwined with travel, movement and change, is not a new conception. Rather, it is one that stems back to the earliest known origins of tatau. The notions of tatau coming from beyond Samoa, the movement of people, and the interconnectedness of Fiji, Samoa and Tonga, are united in historical records the extensive and complex oral histories surrounding the origins of tatau. As the art form has moved through the years, it has progressed along this trajectory of travel and change spread across the globe by widely dispersed Samoan communities. This thesis examines contemporary Samoan tatau as practiced and worn in the Samoan diaspora. As Samoan communities adapt and change in relation to new cultural contexts lived in, so too does tatau. However, new innovations in tatau cannot be talked about in isolation from customary forms; they are part of a cultural continuum embedded in a history of travel and change. For this reason the thesis examines both tatau completed with the ‘au (customary hand tool) and the masigi (tattoo machine). Integral to this thesis is the investigation of Samoan tatau through the lens of those who practice it and those who wear it. Oral testimony is a significant component of the research given the long standing oral histories associated with this measina (treasured art form). Personal narratives garnered from the oral testimony of reputable tufuga tatatau, tatau artists, tatau recipients and gallery based artists allow for a comparative study of aspects of tatau as they relate to concepts of travel and change. With the practice of Samoan tatau set only to increase this thesis hopes to make a timely contribution to research and discussion on Pacific art forms.