Thanks philip and megan, appreciate your taking the trouble to comment. Yes I've noticed a little negative reaction on Facebook. As it's mostly come from people who appear to share my disquiet and anger with the present Government I feel that I should offer a little background.
It's my understanding that all moko are individual. I've also come to understand that the major life commitment of being facially tattooed is something that's undertaken for entirely individual reasons. For me there's a big difference between Tame Iti, a man who could never be accused of hiding behind his moko, and a certain gang member I've had the misfortune to know, whose badly executed tattoo will never be anything more than a mask to frighten women and children.
I've imagined a magic light that would reveal how Key has sold his allegiance in a far more dangerous way than any poor gang member. Instead of having his commitment to "stay staunch" written on his face, he's been rewarded for his ability to keep the secrets of those he serves. For me this is the real Key, portrayed as a disturbing vision from Once Were Warriors. Please remember, those theatrical movie mokos were the product of skilled art direction, rather than reflecting the reality of life in South Auckland. In essence it's a cartoon, but I'm sufficiently disturbed by how things are to have attempted to have made it as realistic as possible.
Yes I agree, this is a powerful cartoon. Some do object that it degenerates the moko. As Megan says, it is mahi toi or art. To me good art provokes a response and a debate.
Hey bro, he don't deserve the linear markings or the koru etc. Actually makes him look almost human. Needs more of his kaupapa on there like....thief, liar, traitor, John Howards understudy ahaha Nice job otherwise.
Honi Key where art thou?
ReplyDelete"Just sold a cuntry ay"
ReplyDelete"Aw chur bro"
This image links moko and dangerousness in a really unhelpful way, I think.
ReplyDeleteI love this image... but got an absolute dressing down when I shared it on facebook.. Surely it is art not ta moko.... Anyway I like it still...
ReplyDeleteThanks philip and megan, appreciate your taking the trouble to comment.
ReplyDeleteYes I've noticed a little negative reaction on Facebook. As it's mostly come from people who appear to share my disquiet and anger with the present Government I feel that I should offer a little background.
It's my understanding that all moko are individual. I've also come to understand that the major life commitment of being facially tattooed is something that's undertaken for entirely individual reasons. For me there's a big difference between Tame Iti, a man who could never be accused of hiding behind his moko, and a certain gang member I've had the misfortune to know, whose badly executed tattoo will never be anything more than a mask to frighten women and children.
I've imagined a magic light that would reveal how Key has sold his allegiance in a far more dangerous way than any poor gang member. Instead of having his commitment to "stay staunch" written on his face, he's been rewarded for his ability to keep the secrets of those he serves. For me this is the real Key, portrayed as a disturbing vision from Once Were Warriors. Please remember, those theatrical movie mokos were the product of skilled art direction, rather than reflecting the reality of life in South Auckland. In essence it's a cartoon, but I'm sufficiently disturbed by how things are to have attempted to have made it as realistic as possible.
Yes I agree, this is a powerful cartoon. Some do object that it degenerates the moko. As Megan says, it is mahi toi or art. To me good art provokes a response and a debate.
ReplyDeleteHey bro, he don't deserve the linear markings or the koru etc. Actually makes him look almost human. Needs more of his kaupapa on there like....thief, liar, traitor, John Howards understudy ahaha Nice job otherwise.
ReplyDelete