Puaki
based on work by Michael Bradley
Tā moko is the art and practice of traditional Māori tattoo, a taonga that almost disappeared as a result of colonisation. Puaki means “to come forth, to reveal, to give testimony”. Photographer Michael Bradley used this concept as the basis of a project exploring ways that tā moko has been both visible and invisible across the generations. In this article based on his project, four people explain why they proudly wear tā moko and how their facial moko connect the past with the present. The story is complemented by stunning portraits of each storyteller.
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