So what is the big deal about sticking some pictures on a T-shirt, pair of skis, or a packet of cigarettes? Why do we hear about Māori up in arms because of the use of a few designs? What is the big deal? –These are questions I get often from friends and colleagues so I thought I would answer as best I can once and for all.
The concerns of Māori in the use of these designs hinges on the ‘appropriateness’ of the application of the design. One of the major factors is that Māori depended on the images and icons to pass on knowledge in lieu of the western styled written language. Therefore the designs and images represent words, meanings and stories.
Given this it is little wonder when the ignorant select the wrong design to grace the front of their product or packaging, they are likely to cause offence.
Even so, what claim does Māori really have on a specific design or icon? according to western law if the author to a design or painting dies, after a certain period the designs become open domain or available to anyone. However indigenous lore not law, which is thousands of years old, differs in some respects because the design is recognised as belonging to the tribe who entrust their history, and meaning to the artist who created it.
Since the tribe is classed as a living entity even after several hundred years later it could be said that it still belongs to the tribe by today’s standards. But this is open for debate and interpretation and may mean a new chapter needs to be included on indigenous intellectual property rights.
There are a number of big company’s or corporations that have been embarrassed by the decision to use Māori heritage on their products or packaging, and not doing it the effectively. These include the recent drama of NZ Post using cartoon caricatures of Kapi Haka. NZ Post had the best of intentions, but the use of cartoons to depict something that is dear to the Māori culture caused such an outcry that the stamps were withdrawn and approximately 1 million were destroyed.
The huge Danish toy company Lego used Māori names for it’s characters in the Bionicles series. Initially they contested their right to use the names but finally capitulated. More controversially was Morris Tobacco (a huge corporation by any standards), who branded a pack of cigarettes as “Māori Mix”; including a map of New Zealand and various Māori designs.
Unsurprisingly this caused a furore amongst the Māori community, who have been battling against the grip the tobacco industry seems to have on the Māori people, let alone the Māori heritage. The uproar resulted in an apology from the CEO and a quick withdrawal of the product. These public failures beg the question. Why do they bother? Why sell cigarettes to Israeli’s with Māori designs on them?
In fact Māori design and iconography is undergoing a renaissance in New Zealand, and in many ways this renaissance has been driven by a world hungry for designs that are different and contain some meaning. The icons of much of the western world are largely ‘plastic’ and meaningless: The arches of McDonalds for example, and other manufactured icons.
The resurgence in spirituality, and an interest in alternate cultures throughout the western world has resulted in a demand for Māori icons and designs in the form of Tattoos, product decoration, and symbolism. International corporations are aware of these trends and look to profit from them.
However these lessons have hit home. When it comes to using indigenous imagery as a brand for commercial gain, a new process is emerging. Businesses are becoming increasingly aware of the need to explore the cultural sensitivity, offensiveness and ownership of a trademark which is made up if indigenous imagery or references, before making use of it. Such consultation may be with elders, clans, iwi, language institutions, government departments, and artists, for example. This all goes towards promoting authenticity and depth to a product or service – and more importantly, promoting our culture correctly.
Although the larger corporations are investing in this process the smaller businesses really don’t know what to do. The problems stem from people who are not fully informed or have been poorly advised about the market and how to go about using Māori designs correctly. There is a cultural revival, a Māori renaissance, occurring here in New Zealand. This shows that Māori are alive and kicking and are doing what they can to protect what is left after one hundred and fifty years of colonialism.
Those intending on using Māori design may benefit in the knowledge that Māori are united on all fronts in the protection and preservation of their cultural identities with fierce passion. There are always people ready to take advantage of the uniqueness of what Māori culture bring to the global mix. Unless you have the credibility and respect of the community, expect to see a war party at your doorstep with a pounding by the cultural watchdogs or protectors of Māori culture.
Tiki O'Brien is the founder of www.maori-arts.com. A Maori Artist, designer and entrepreneur with a passion for creativity he has amassed a wealth of knowledge and experience in marketing, media and communication. A graduate from the school of hard knocks he is mostly self taught and is sought after for his knowledge.
So how does one go about getting a Māori design? And what is the correct procedure? for more information sign up to be a FREE member on www.maori-arts.com.
http://www.articles-hub.com/articles/129383/1/Who-Stole-My-Hangi/Page1.html
Monday, July 9, 2007
Help With Deciding On The Right Tattoo
When you have decided that you really want a tattoo and you know of a tattoo artist you are going to use then the next step is deciding on a particular tattoo design that you want. From this point on is where the hard work starts. Finding the tattoo artist is the easy part but deciding on what tattoo you want will take work. There are so many different kinds of Tattoos to choose from it actually makes it harder to determine which tattoo to go with. It’s also a lot of fun looking at tons of different possible tattoo designs. The type of artwork that you choose will be a personal preference but there are some designs that are more common than others. For example, an angel tattoo design is more popular with men than a rose or butterfly tattoo which is popular with women.
The colors to choose for a tattoo vary widely and all depend on personal preference. Rose tattoos do not have to necessarily be red, but can also be black or white as there are many different meanings with rose colors. Styles of the different tattoos will vary also depending on they type of tattoo.
The angel or devil tattoo will tend to be in larger format with bold dark colors, while a tribal tattoo will have many pieces and black color. A butterfly can be any different colors, sizes and shapes.
Choosing the location of the tattoo is also part of the process. You can have a tattoo put anywhere on the human body and some people will go overboard and place a tattoo in odd places such as the top of the head, under the neck, on fingers, feet and many other places you can think of. What is popular for women might not be as popular for men, such as women love to have tattoos placed on the lower back, upper back or on the ankle, while men tend to have tattoos placed on the upper arm, shoulder or back. It is all a matter of style and what the person likes best. There really is not a wrong place to put a tattoo as long as you like it.
As you can see, the choice of tattoo designs are endless and finding the right tattoo for you may seem like a huge task but of course there are many resources you can use to find the right tattoo.
Using the Internet to start your research may be a good idea as there are many different websites related to tattoo designs. There are many galleries and pictures that you can look through to get an idea of the kinds of tattoos out there. Most sites will try to sell you templates of tattoos, which might be of good use since you can take those templates to your tattoo artist, which in the long run will save you money from having a tattoo artist design a fresh tattoo. This does not mean you cannot have the template modified. The cost will depend on the size and complexity of the tattoo design that you decide to go with. So if you wish for a small tattoo, it might be worth the extra cost for a tattoo artist to create a unique design.
If you do not find any tattoo designs on the internet that you like, you can always go to your tattoo artist and ask for a sketch of a tattoo that you may be thinking about. This of course will cost extra but may be worth it in the long run as once a tattoo is put on the body it’s very difficult to get rid of it. Be sure to spend time researching your tattoo and look through as many pictures and designs as possible as it will help you decide what you want.
After finding a tattoo artist you will need to do research to find the tattoo design. Start by looking through directories or galleries of tattoo designs. This will help you find the design you are looking for. Even if you don't know what kind of tattoo design you want, by looking through galleries you will get an idea of what is out there. Angel tattoos are becoming popular among men, along with devil tattoos. But for females you might want to look for rose tattoos or even any kind of lower back tattoo designs.
http://www.articles-hub.com/articles/129384/1/Help-With-Deciding-On-The-Right-Tattoo/Page1.html
The colors to choose for a tattoo vary widely and all depend on personal preference. Rose tattoos do not have to necessarily be red, but can also be black or white as there are many different meanings with rose colors. Styles of the different tattoos will vary also depending on they type of tattoo.
The angel or devil tattoo will tend to be in larger format with bold dark colors, while a tribal tattoo will have many pieces and black color. A butterfly can be any different colors, sizes and shapes.
Choosing the location of the tattoo is also part of the process. You can have a tattoo put anywhere on the human body and some people will go overboard and place a tattoo in odd places such as the top of the head, under the neck, on fingers, feet and many other places you can think of. What is popular for women might not be as popular for men, such as women love to have tattoos placed on the lower back, upper back or on the ankle, while men tend to have tattoos placed on the upper arm, shoulder or back. It is all a matter of style and what the person likes best. There really is not a wrong place to put a tattoo as long as you like it.
As you can see, the choice of tattoo designs are endless and finding the right tattoo for you may seem like a huge task but of course there are many resources you can use to find the right tattoo.
Using the Internet to start your research may be a good idea as there are many different websites related to tattoo designs. There are many galleries and pictures that you can look through to get an idea of the kinds of tattoos out there. Most sites will try to sell you templates of tattoos, which might be of good use since you can take those templates to your tattoo artist, which in the long run will save you money from having a tattoo artist design a fresh tattoo. This does not mean you cannot have the template modified. The cost will depend on the size and complexity of the tattoo design that you decide to go with. So if you wish for a small tattoo, it might be worth the extra cost for a tattoo artist to create a unique design.
If you do not find any tattoo designs on the internet that you like, you can always go to your tattoo artist and ask for a sketch of a tattoo that you may be thinking about. This of course will cost extra but may be worth it in the long run as once a tattoo is put on the body it’s very difficult to get rid of it. Be sure to spend time researching your tattoo and look through as many pictures and designs as possible as it will help you decide what you want.
After finding a tattoo artist you will need to do research to find the tattoo design. Start by looking through directories or galleries of tattoo designs. This will help you find the design you are looking for. Even if you don't know what kind of tattoo design you want, by looking through galleries you will get an idea of what is out there. Angel tattoos are becoming popular among men, along with devil tattoos. But for females you might want to look for rose tattoos or even any kind of lower back tattoo designs.
http://www.articles-hub.com/articles/129384/1/Help-With-Deciding-On-The-Right-Tattoo/Page1.html
How To Be A Tattoo Artist
It seems that more and more people are getting Tattoos or talking about getting one. This is great for the industry and even better for those who would like to get a foot in the door in the tattoo industry. But don’t think for a moment that becoming a professional tattoo artist is easy. There really isn’t any such thing as easy money by becoming a tattoo artist.
To begin with, you will need talent. You will never make it in the tattoo industry by tracing or stenciling, you will need to be able to draw great designs. To even get considered as a tattoo artist, a portfolio is needed. This will require you to draw until your hands ache and then a little more. Your portfolio is your proof that you have the skills that are needed to succeed in the industry. Without a portfolio, don’t even bother.
Once you have a portfolio to showcase your talents, you will need a mentor, someone who is willing to teach you the trade and share their secrets with you. Now this is the tricky thing, tattoo artists don’t like giving away their secrets. If you do find someone good, a real professional who is willing to tell you anything at all about the industry, listen up!
In some states you will be required by law to get an apprenticeship and train for a number of years to become a tattoo artist. Unlike a traditional apprenticeship, you will be required to pay the tattoo artist that you are working under a fee and you wont get paid for your work while you are being trained. There is no real time limit on how long you will train. The mentor you choose will tell you when he thinks you are ready to branch off and become a professional.
To train as a tattoo artist, you will need proper, high-quality equipment such as a tattoo machine, power supplies, shading equipment, needles, medical equipment and sanitation supplies. You will also need to know about cleanliness and what can and can’t be reused, as well as how to clean your equipment. The popular professional tattoo artists are successful for a number of reasons, but mainly because they are clean and very talented.
You can succeed in the tattoo industry, but you will need to be talented, self-driven and dedicated. If you want to make millions in the first month as a tattoo artist, you are wasting your time. Become a tattoo artist because you love the art and love to create breath-taking pieces of body art. Be prepared to work for free and, most of all, if you get someone to stop and share a secret or two with you, take their advice. You will definitely need it.
Tim owns and operates a tattoo site to help people in all aspects of the tattoo world. For more information on How To Be A Tattoo Artist go to: http://www.dotattoos.com/tattooartist.htm
http://www.articles-hub.com/articles/129385/1/How-To-Be-A-Tattoo-Artist/Page1.html
To begin with, you will need talent. You will never make it in the tattoo industry by tracing or stenciling, you will need to be able to draw great designs. To even get considered as a tattoo artist, a portfolio is needed. This will require you to draw until your hands ache and then a little more. Your portfolio is your proof that you have the skills that are needed to succeed in the industry. Without a portfolio, don’t even bother.
Once you have a portfolio to showcase your talents, you will need a mentor, someone who is willing to teach you the trade and share their secrets with you. Now this is the tricky thing, tattoo artists don’t like giving away their secrets. If you do find someone good, a real professional who is willing to tell you anything at all about the industry, listen up!
In some states you will be required by law to get an apprenticeship and train for a number of years to become a tattoo artist. Unlike a traditional apprenticeship, you will be required to pay the tattoo artist that you are working under a fee and you wont get paid for your work while you are being trained. There is no real time limit on how long you will train. The mentor you choose will tell you when he thinks you are ready to branch off and become a professional.
To train as a tattoo artist, you will need proper, high-quality equipment such as a tattoo machine, power supplies, shading equipment, needles, medical equipment and sanitation supplies. You will also need to know about cleanliness and what can and can’t be reused, as well as how to clean your equipment. The popular professional tattoo artists are successful for a number of reasons, but mainly because they are clean and very talented.
You can succeed in the tattoo industry, but you will need to be talented, self-driven and dedicated. If you want to make millions in the first month as a tattoo artist, you are wasting your time. Become a tattoo artist because you love the art and love to create breath-taking pieces of body art. Be prepared to work for free and, most of all, if you get someone to stop and share a secret or two with you, take their advice. You will definitely need it.
Tim owns and operates a tattoo site to help people in all aspects of the tattoo world. For more information on How To Be A Tattoo Artist go to: http://www.dotattoos.com/tattooartist.htm
http://www.articles-hub.com/articles/129385/1/How-To-Be-A-Tattoo-Artist/Page1.html
Need A Tattoo Idea or Design?
We all have seen those eye grabbing figures many people wears on their skins. If you are a tattoo fan you may be on the look for an original tattoo you can wear without finding the same design on the arm of every guy you find at every club.
For one reason it seems that most guys and gals prefer and like creepy tattoo designs and ideas. But where can you get the best ideas for these? For example one way of getting great ideas is by watching those big wrestlers on the ring. They usually wear pretty awesome Tattoos on their skins, tattoos that translate into an identity, into what their represent on the ring. Maybe your design won’t be the most original by choosing this source of inspiration, but you’ll grab the idea and with some variations you can get a real good tattoo design for yourself. A tattoo that will have an identity.
Of course, there are other sources. One of them is the world of movies. If you love horror movies, then you will be delighted by incorporating some of their stars into your designs (they will always make an eye grabbing tattoo); for example the world famous Freddy Kruger, legendary beasts as Alien, The Thing, Dexter, or even Scream, and Pet Cemetery can make a really good and original tattoo for your preferred piece of skin.
Once you have found a great image with an identity for itself you can translate it into a tattoo, incorporating your own creativity to make your new tattoo all you want it to be.
If you want to visit a huge gallery of tattoo designs, so huge you won’t have time to review all of them in one evening visit:
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=A._Ferri
For one reason it seems that most guys and gals prefer and like creepy tattoo designs and ideas. But where can you get the best ideas for these? For example one way of getting great ideas is by watching those big wrestlers on the ring. They usually wear pretty awesome Tattoos on their skins, tattoos that translate into an identity, into what their represent on the ring. Maybe your design won’t be the most original by choosing this source of inspiration, but you’ll grab the idea and with some variations you can get a real good tattoo design for yourself. A tattoo that will have an identity.
Of course, there are other sources. One of them is the world of movies. If you love horror movies, then you will be delighted by incorporating some of their stars into your designs (they will always make an eye grabbing tattoo); for example the world famous Freddy Kruger, legendary beasts as Alien, The Thing, Dexter, or even Scream, and Pet Cemetery can make a really good and original tattoo for your preferred piece of skin.
Once you have found a great image with an identity for itself you can translate it into a tattoo, incorporating your own creativity to make your new tattoo all you want it to be.
If you want to visit a huge gallery of tattoo designs, so huge you won’t have time to review all of them in one evening visit:
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=A._Ferri
Saturday, July 7, 2007
Tattoos as Part of Our Daily Lives
Tattoos have become a part of our every day lives. We see all kind of people with different styles, patterns, designs, and sizes. Tattoos extend throughout history, going back to the cradle of civilization. Tattoos can be used for many things such as remembering a special event, dealing with loss, sadness, or depression among other things. For an artist it can be a way to develop your artistic abilities and help other people deal with some emotional problem, or to help them feel better about their bodies. Tattoos can serve as comfort to many people.
Tattoos have been seen all throughout history on all different kinds of people of different religions, races, ethnicities, among others. Tattoos can have endless meanings. The Egyptians used to tattoo themselves for decorative purposes. Ancient Indian tribes such as Mayans also used tattoos for religious purposes and to segregate themselves from other tribes. In other societies, tattoos were used to mark criminals to be able to recognize them easily. Also, tattoos have been used to show membership, commitment, and fidelity to a certain group, for example Nazis, gang members, or communist party members. Everyone is different, and each person has a unique taste and style. That is why we have seen so much diversity in tattoos throughout our world’s history.
Now a day, people tattoo themselves for many reasons. Some of those reasons can be simply to adorn their bodies, to have a memory of a special event, to express their emotions, or to deal with the loss of someone dear. Tattoos can help to improve the way the feel about their body, to cover up scars and stretch marks, or to divert the attention from something other unwanted on the body. There are people who get a tattoo of something or someone they truly admire; a role model or someone or something that has changed their lives.
People can be very stereotypical regarding tattoos. Tattoos are sometimes frowned upon in society. People think that only “bad” people get tattoos, but the truth is that the people that you least expect may have tattoos. People can get tattoos because of religious beliefs, deep personal reasons, because they simply like the way they look, because they want to fit into a certain crowd, they are trying to rebel against society, some people feel it’s a right of passage for them, and some just like the way it feels.
So you see people can have many different reasons for getting tattooed. We need to not judge people immediately or classify them as troublemakers and a menace to society. Just because a person makes the decision to have a tattoo on their body does not make them a bad person. That is just their personal way to express their feelings. People have many reasons for making that choice of making their body a work of art. We simply need to respect it and understand that the person is just showing who they really are.
http://ezinearticles.com/?Tattoos-as-Part-of-Our-Daily-Lives&id=623014
Tattoo Design Ideas
Getting tattoo design ideas can help anyone find the perfect tattoo that reflects exactly who they really are. We are going to discuss some basic tattoo designs to help you get an idea of where to start and what to prepare for.
Tattoos are an undying symbol of who you are. They can help remind you of where you came from, where you are going, or who you want to be. They are a pure form of self expression and a representation of your inner self. Tattoos may tell a story or keep remembrance of a love one alive. Try to keep this in mind when you are figuring out which tattoo you would like. It is extremely important that you choose wisely.
Below are just a few basic styles of tattoos. The type of designs may help you spark some great tattoo ideas.
1. The Tribal Tattoo Design - Tribal Tattoo designs have its roots from early cave paintings. Many cultures from the Mayans and Aztecs to the early Egyptians used tribal tattoos. They have many meanings and represent a number of ideals. Tibal Tattoo Designs are great because they hold much deep inner meaning and can symbolize everything from strength to purity. There are literally thousands upon thousands of different kinds of tribal tattoo design ideas. Discover which one is right for you.
2. Celtic Tattoo Designs - Celtic Tatto designs are also one of the most famous kinds of tattoos. Celtic Tattoos symbolize the celtic genre and are often a very intricate weave as with all celtic designs. Most often seen is the Celtic Cross tattoo. Celtic tattoos are a great tattoo idea and there are literally unlimited choices for the kind of tatt idea you are looking for.
3. Zodiak Tattoo Designs - Zodiak tattoos are also extremely popular. Zodiak tattoos are a great symbol of who we are. Those who practice and follow astrology often find this style of tattoo a winner. Whether your looking for a Pisces tattoo, a Leo tattoo or an a Gemini tattoo everyone can find a style that they can relate too.
4. Japanese Tatto Designs - Japanese tattoo designs and other kinds of oriental tattoos are often popular in the west as well. Oriental tattoos are stylish and can represent something that no one else (unless they are oriental) may understand. Japanese tattoos make great tattoo ideas and can be very beautiful.
5. Dragon Tattoo Designs - Dragon Tattoos can represent anything from strength to luck. Dragon tatts are great and beautiful and have its place in history as well. These style of tatts are culturally defining and look very exotic. This is a great choice for a tattoo idea.
Whichever style of tattoo design you are looking for, make sure it is what fits you exactly. Tattoos are long-term and will follow you wherever you go. It is a great idea to make sure you choose wisely and invest time in to deciding which one is right for you.
Visit our site to get 1000's of Tattoo Ideas and Tattoo Sketches or to find a Tattoo Parlor near you.
Tribal Art Tattoos- The Old Is New
The oldest known tattoo is that found on Oetzi, a Bronze Age warrior who lived some fifty-three centuries ago. Oetzi’s remains were founding 1991 preserved in the ice of the of an Alpone glacier on the border of Austria and Italy. Oetzi actually had fifty-seven separate tattoos, and although no one really knows their significance, it is possible that his intersecting and parallel lines are the earliest yet discovered example of tribal art tattoos. If so, Oetzi would be surprised to learn that he is quite the 21st century trend-setter.
In a world gone tattoo-mad, tribal art tattoos seem to have cause more than their fair share of the frenzy. They are the most requested, and most easily recognized, of all tattoos. With their startling black lines and sharply defined abstract shapes which somehow evoke animal, birds, and reptiles, tribal art tattoos remind us of a long-lost connection to an unspoiled world.
The term tribal art tattoos encompasses the tattoo styles developed by the by the African and Pacific Island tribal cultures, and of those the Maori people of New Zealand created the most distinctive tattoos. Their custom of identifying separate families within their tribes by cutting and coloring that family’s history into the faces of its descendants is known as Moko, and has been the inspiration for many a modern facial tribal art tattoo.
Maori tribal tattoo art is recognizable for its two types of patterns. One was a pigmented line, and the other involved inking the background and allowing the untouched skin to form the pattern. Many of the Maori tattoos contain spirals similar to fern fronds.
The Native American also used tribal art tattoos as a means of tribal identification, and their warriors had battle tattoos believed to provide protection; the tribes of Samoa, on the other hand, would cover their young men entirely in tattoos as a rite of passage into adulthood. Tribal art tattoos have been used for a variety of reasons, and very few of them were simply ornamental.
Tribal art tattoos did not make their way to the “civilized” world until they were brought back by nineteenth century sailors who were willing tolerate the extremely painful inking techniques practiced by the tribal tattoo artists. But the tribal art tattoos which have currently taken the world by storm are not quite the same as the ones which decorated the torsos of many a sun-burned deck hand.
The mainstream tribal art tattoos with which we re all so familiar are really a hybrid form of tattoo, which combines features of the ancient tribal tattoos with design elements first introduced in the 1990s by master tattoo artist Leo Zulueta, himself a Filipino-American. Zulueta has made a point never to copy directly from the original tribal art tattoo designs, because he considers it disrespectful for those not directly related to the tribes to wear their symbols of family and empowerment.
The most sought-after tribal art tattoos today are armbands; chains of knots, barbed-wire, or flames are all popular. Stylized animal heads and sunbursts are great for the shoulder or chest area, and circular navel tribal art tattoos are also quite common. The tribal art tattoo, in fact, works very well in emphasizing bodily contours, and there are many designs ideal for the curvature if the lower back. There is, in fact, a tribal tattoo art design to enhance every part of
Discover how to avoid being the one in four who Hate thier new Tattoo, including simple Tattoo safety tips, in our your free Tattoo Guide : -
http://ezinearticles.com/?Tribal-Art-Tattoos--The-Old-Is-New&id=629570
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