Through Adams' photography, Tatau tells the story of Sulu'ape Paulo II, the pre-eminent figure of modern Samoan tattooing.
At times incisive and descriptive, and at others deeply moging, this book is a collection of poems which is both retrospective perceptive"--Back cover
Through photographs taken in the studio and on location in Samoa and elsewhere, Tatau showcases the work of traditional Samoan tattoo masters alongside that of younger practitioners working within and influenced by the tradition today.
Stunningly illustrated with images of nineteenth and twentiethcentury and contemporary Samoan tattoos, along with intricate diagrams of designsand motifs, Tatau is the definitiveguide to this rich and influential living art form.
Tatau
"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 Suluʻape Paulo II, the pre-eminent figure of modern Samoan tattooing.
Through Adams' photography, Tatau tells the story of Sulu'ape Paulo II, the pre-eminent figure of modern Samoan tattooing.