New Exhibition Shares a Living Legacy with UMFA Visitors this August
For release July 26, 2023
Media contact Emma Ryder, emma.ryder@umfa.utah.edu
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Tatau: Marks of Polynesia opens at the Utah Museum of Fine Arts (UMFA) at the University of Utah on August 12, 2023. Comprised of over 150 photographs and narratives, Tatau displays the work of Samoan tattoo masters (tufuga tā tatau), with a special focus on the influential Sulu‘ape family. The Sulu'ape family granted total access to the makers of this exhibition, allowing them to witness, study, and photograph everything from sacred rituals to family life.
Through the images on display in Tatau visitors will learn about one of the world’s most distinctive living tattoo traditions with a continuous history of over 2,000 years. The exhibition also highlights a new generation of apprentices and practitioners from across the globe who work within and are influenced by tatau in a tattoo style known as Contemporary Polynesian.
Recognizing the importance this exhibition holds for the community it represents, the UMFA’s version of this traveling exhibition was realized with the collaborative expertise and guidance of the Tatau: Marks of Polynesia Advisory Committee, a group of dedicated volunteers from Utah’s Polynesian community. “The tatau is a sacred practice and tradition that connects us to our ancestors. Despite outside pressures dating back to the 18th & 19th century the tatau has survived colonization, missionary influence and western religious views and ideology. This exhibit is the story of an inspired Sulu’ape family who, against all odds and outside influences, fought to preserve their culture, their art, their tools, and their history.” Said Verona Mauga, co-chair of the UMFA’s advisory committee.
“The UMFA is delighted to present this exhibition, which explores the beauty of Samoan tattoos as well as the key role they play in the preservation and propagation of Samoan culture,” said Gretchen Dietrich, The Marcia and John Price Executive Director. “It’s been an absolute pleasure working with members of Utah’s vibrant Pacific Islander community to present this exhibition in Utah and create wonderful programs related to it.”
An opening day celebration in partnership with the community will be held on August 12, 2023, starting at 11:00 am at the UMFA. More information about the opening day celebration can be found at umfa.utah.edu/tatau/opening-celebration. See all events related to Tatau at umfa.utah.edu/list/event-type/tatau-marks-polynesia. Tatau: Marks of Polynesia is on view at the UMFA from August 12 through December 30, 2023.
The traveling version of Tatau: Marks of Polynesia was curated by Takahiro Kitamura and organized by the Japanese American National Museum. The exhibition is presented by Al and Sue Landon and funded in part by The Joseph and Evelyn Rosenblatt Enrichment Fund.