A revered selection of paintings of Māori women bearing moko kauae has returned to life in a new printing of Harry Sangl’s celebrated book Blue Privilege, to be published in June as Te Kuia Moko.
Newly arrived in New Zealand in 1969, Prague-born artist Harry Sangl became captivated by the paintings of kaumatua and kuia (elders) of C.F. Goldie and Gottfried Lindauer.
He believed kuia with moko kauae (chin tattoos) were of a bygone era — until he saw a photograph of one in March 1972 in the New Zealand Herald.
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| Haromi Rutene Karaitiana (Ngāi Tūhoe) sits for her portrait by Harry Sangl |
Tiria Tuhoro was her name. Harry packed up his caravan and left that same day to find her at Ruatoki, near Te Urewera. So began a three-and-a-half-year journey around the North Island, completed portraits of 34 kuia with moko, with their permission.
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| The portrait and biography of Herepo Rongo (Tainui) in Te Kuia Moko |
His celebrated paintings were published as The Blue Privilege in 1980, accompanied by biographies of the women in their own words and black-and-white sketches of their moko, along with essays by Merimeri Penfold and D.R. Simmons.
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| Merimeri Penfold's essay elucidates the importance of moko kauae in Māori society |
Following up on the interest that exhibition stirred, Harry and his daughter Michaela have worked with Auckland printers Soar Print and publishers Oratia Books to prepare this affordable paperback edition.
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| Harry with daughter Michaela (left) and granddaughter Isla (right) in front of the remains of Tiria Tuhoro's house in Ruatoki in 2015 |
Publication: 9 June 2020 | RRP $65 | ISBN: 978-0-947506-77-3
Paperback, 330 x 250 mm, 100 pages, colour
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