Tufuga ta tatau: TRADITIONAL SAMOAN TATTOO DEMONSTRATIONS

11.00am to 5.00pm, Friday 21 & Saturday 22 March

Free to observe 

The art of tattooing in Samoa, known as tatau, has a history that spans over 2,000 years.

Samoa’s tattoo culture is a vibrant and sacred tradition that has been passed down through generations, demonstrating the enduring nature of Samoan cultural identity.

This practice has survived colonization, modernization, and globalization, adapting while remaining true to its roots.

Samoan tattoos are more than just body art; each design is rich in symbolic meaning, often reflecting the wearer’s personal journey, heritage, and social status.

Traditional tattooing methods utilize hand-tapped tools, and a deep understanding of symbols and patterns used.

We are honoured to host an internationally recognized tufuga ta tatau (Samoan tattoo master), Su’a Uilisone Fitiau who will share his skills and knowledge here in lutruwita/Tasmania.

Su’a Uilisone Fitiao, sharing laei o Samoa (sacred tattoo grown of Samoa) with others is one of the most important parts of his line of work. As one of the founding membersof Folauga o le Tatau Malaga Aganu’u Fa’asamoa (Fa’asamoa Arts), he has dedicated his life to the indigenous, traditional arts of American Samoa, with tatau at the forefront of his efforts. While Su’a is a prolific siapo-maker and woodcarver, his work that has garnered the most recognition worldwide is his role as a tufuga tatatau— a Samoan tattoo master.