Te Papa logo

Museum of New Zealand

Te Papa Tongarewa

International visitor tickets

Free entry for New Zealanders and people living in New Zealand

Watch: Photographing Sāmoan tatau (tattoo)

Watch photographer Mark Adams discuss his 40-year project photographing Sāmoan tatau with Senior Curator Pacific Cultures Sean Mallon.

This interview was filmed in Te Papa’s Photography Collection Store in preparation for the selection of Adams’ works in the 2019 exhibition TATAU: Sāmoan tattooing and photography.

You might also like

Watch: Sāmoan New Zealanders talk about their tatau (Sāmoan tattoo)

Five Sāmoan New Zealanders share what their tatau means to them.

Watch: Talking Tatau – Mana Wahine Panel

Who said tattooing is ‘men’s’ work anyway? Watch a panel discussion from Te Papa inspired by the stories of women mark makers who are revitalising female tattooing in Aotearoa, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, and Sāmoa.

See Mark Adams photography in our collection

We have over 600 Mark Adams photographs available to view on Collections Online.