Project E: Engraved Feelings

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In the following project, i do not intend to exploit Ta Moko, instead to honour it by keeping in mind all the respect TaMoko deserves.

Thank You.

INITIAL RESEARCH

Tattoos of modern-age, are the derived form of the ancient, immortal Ta Moko.

STORY

Ta Moko, a ritual of Maoris i.e the people of New Zealand, has been in the Maori culture for over a thousand years. Ta Moko is all about blood, pain and sacrifice. However people of the modern age, still follow the ritual of tattooing. Tattoos of the modern age are the derived form of Ta Moko. Today, people mark their skins with tattoos to celebrate events, or when they go through a painful journey in their lives, where they have to mourn in grief of losing someone precious i.e death of a beloved.

Getting a tattoo is a painful procedure, and a lifetime decision. Tattoos are said to be 'Permanent marks for, temporary feelings'. People get tattoos to mark their memories, emotions, temporary feelings e.t.c, on their skins. Some people will get tattoos on their skins, to find their hidden strength, their limit of pain absorption. Many do it for the sake of beauty pleasure, however the creators of this art, marked their skins to show the world who they were, who they are and who they ever will be.

The Maoris ENGRAVED Ta Moko in their skin with such elegance to show their independence and achievements made in life. They divided the face into 8 sections and further ENGRAVED Ta Moko, starting from the highest area of the face 'the forehead' till the lowest area of the face 'the jaw'. Ta Moko symbols were carefully ENGRAVED in those respected portions of the face also keeping in mind, significance of the head.

 Ta Moko is an identity of the Maoris. In the past, Ta Moko defined the rank of the wearer of the respected tribe. The lines and symbols of Ta Moko are still sacred for the Maoris. It was a huge honor for the people of Maori to have Ta Moko. Both genders i.e Maori men and Maori women wore Ta Moko at that time. Ta Moko was mainly ENGRAVED in the highest limb of a human body i.e head, to portray Ta Moko's significance. However, after some time Ta Moko was also applied to the buttocks of men and chin, lips and shoulders of women. For the women, having Ta Moko on their chin, proved their strength, courage and bravery, and with that, Ta Moko on a women's chin showed her rank in the tribe, and that, she had the right to speak for herself. 

The meaning of Ta Moko was dependent on its placement and on its wearer. The left side of the face, was related to the father’s history while the right side of the face, was related to the mother’s history of the wearer. Ta Moko was applied through the scarification method, it was ENGRAVED in the epidermis layer of the skin, crossing the dermis layer i.e two layers of the skin. The tool used to ENGRAVE Ta Moko was, albatross bone with a wooden handle. The pigments used in the past by Tohunga i.e an expert practitioner of any skill or art in the Maori culture of New Zealand, to fill the ENGRAVED area of the skin were, carui gum and dye from other vegetation, mixed with oil. The mixture created was blue in color and it almost took a year and a half for the wound to completely heal. Once the wound has healed, the color of the dye with which Tohunga filled the ENGRAVED area of the skin, turned black and permanent. 

INSPIRATION

Taking inspiration from the art i.e Ta Moko and its creators i.e the Maoris, i have merged the past era with the present age and aim to successfully produce highly contemporary form of fashion products i.e shoes and bags. With the idea of incorporating Ta Moko on a human skull, thus presenting revival of Ta Moko to the world. The human skull represents mortality of the Maoris and the incorporation of Ta Moko on a human skull represents immortality of the great Ta Moko. 

DESIGN PROCESS / TECHNIQUES

With indirect contemporary approach, I have generated ideas in reference to the original significance and methods of application of Ta Moko on skin,adopted by the Maoris in the past. 

1. TheMaoris ENGRAVED Ta Moko in their skins, similarly, in my design process, I choose skins (i.e leather hides / suedes) and use them instead, to ENGRAVE Ta Moko, by making the leather hides undergo the process of leather engraving and laser cutting.
2. Another very important aspect of Ta-Moko application was filling the ENGRAVED area of the skin with carui gum and dyes. In reference to that, 2 different types of fillings are used in the ENGRAVED area of the shoes and bags.

• Filling that glows.
• Filling which changes its color at a certain temperature.

To maintain the Maori tribal feeling, products are made bold along with the rough look of a Maori warrior and also to achieve the damned effect of their painful sufferings, suitable material such as textured leather or suede is used. 

Below is the Magic. . .

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 

As a footwear prodcution and technology expert, my aim is to create highly elegant yet comfortable footwear, along paying a tribute to Ta Moko. I further aim to spread awareness of Ta Moko through fashion products, in the modern world of fashion. Promoting Ta Moko through fashion products will highlight the significance of Ta Moko and its values in the modern world.

CHALLENGES AND GOALS

My approach towards this project is to introduce a whole new world of color changing and heat reactive fashion products. Also to make extraordinary, contemporary Ta Moko inspired shoes and bags. In order to achieve enhanced quality of the products, suitable materials and maintained quality assembling is required, which are main focus of my collection, although it is challenging for me, but NOT IMPOSSIBLE. 

Dear reader,

Thank you for your precious time, i hope you are excited as much as i am, to see this project alive. Wish me goodluck.

Regards,

 Ammar Elahi

Here is a video of the sample on cow leather

Photo Rendered TA-MOKO Collection

Click to on the link below to view: