Conocé la simbología de los tatuajes maories.
Political activist Tame Iti had a traditional moko tattooed onto his face last year, and encourages others to do so as well, but only after taking a vow to take no drugs, alcohol, tobacco, or commit acts of domestic violence. During 1995 Waitangi Day he caused a public relations disaster for the New Zealand government by spitting and bearing his buttocks at the Prime Minister of New Zealand. Waitangi Day commemorates the 1840 signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, which is the founding document of New Zealand. Considered one of the most creative of Maori protesters, he first gained notoriety by setting up a tent in front of the Parliament building and declaring it the Maori Embassy. Widely traveled in the international circles of the ÒFirst NationÓ movement, he seeks Òde-colonizationÓ and return of Maori lands. He has recently been knocking on doors of local white ranchers and handing out eviction notices to shocked ÒPakehaÓ (New Zealanders of European ancestry), demanding return of their land that was stolen from his people. He expects them to ignore his eviction notices, and plans to start tearing down their fences soon. This photo was taken as part of a story for GEO Magazine on the Maori Independence Movement that is trying to regain rights given to the Maori under the treaty of Waitangi. These rights to land and fishery, among others, have since been usurped during hundreds of years of British and now New Zealand rule.
El sagrado arte corporal maorí tiene una simbología detrás. Entérate qué significan y porque son tan importantes para ésta tribu de Nueva Zelanda.
Lo primero que nos llama la atención es el hecho de que los maoríes tatúen sus caras. Esto es porque los maoríes consideran que la parte más sagrada del cuerpo es la cabeza. Los tatuajes ubicados en esta parte de su cuerpo están compuestos por formas curvas y espirales. Simbolizan el rango, el prestigio y el estatus social.
Los tatuajes en el cuerpo son considerados por los maoríes como una instancia de pasaje, de transición, por lo que se lo lleva a cabo a modo de ritual durante la adolescencia. Lo más peculiar acerca de los tatuajes maorí, es que siempre son distintos, cada uno despliega y exhibe el arte, la creatividad y la cultura maorí.
