WhoFish - Local Events and Activities

Title:	Tatau: Marks of Polynesia
Date:	8/12/2023 - 12/30/2023
Address:	Utah Museum of Fine Arts, 410 Campus Center Dr, Salt Lake City, UT 84112
Location:	Salt Lake City, UT
Hours:	Tuesday - Sunday: 10 am - 5 pm, Wednesday: 10am - 8pm
Cost/Cover:	free - $17.95
Web Page:	https://umfa.utah.edu/tatau
Contact Info:	801-581-7332

Details:

Tatau: Marks of Polynesia depicts the legacy of tatau, the art of Samoan tattooing. Tatau tells a story of history, craftsmanship, tradition and, most importantly, a people preserving their own story. The exhibition explores a beautiful and sacred art that is fundamental in the preservation and spread of Samoan culture, surviving many attempts at eradication. Comprised of over 150 powerful photographs and narratives, Tatau displays the work of Samoan tattoo masters (tufuga ta tatau), with a special focus on the influential Sulu‘ape family. Other sections highlight a new generation of apprentices and practitioners working within and influenced by tatau traditions. Visitors will learn about the tatau process, sacred handmade tools called ‘au, and associated traditions. Through the tatau ritual, whether it’s pe’a (traditional male tattoos) or malu (traditional female tattoos), the tattooed person is provided a strengthened sense of identity and a comprehensive understanding of Samoan culture and values. This ritual is critically important, considering the numerous attempts by missionaries and colonists to suppress cultural expressions like tattooing throughout the Pacific. Despite these efforts, the culture of tatau has thrived and influenced tattoo traditions throughout the world. A great pride for many Samoans––tatau has seen a modern revival, helping its Pacific neighbors in Tonga, Tahiti, New Zealand, Ha’waii, and the Cook Islands, by providing a reference for the preservation of their own tattooing traditions.