Te Kuia Moko bring paintings of kuia bearing chin moko to readers nationwide

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. 

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. 

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.

Merimeri Penfold's essay elucidates the importance of moko kauae in Māori society

All the works were shown together again in 2019 in a popular exhibition at the Depot Artspace in Devonport, Auckland (see coverage on Te Karere here).

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. 

Harry with daughter Michaela (left) and granddaughter Isla (right) in front of the remains of Tiria Tuhoro's house in Ruatoki in 2015

The author

Harry Sangl was a professional artist in Germany before emigrating to New Zealand in 1969 and beginning his journey into te Ao Māori. An exhibition of his kuia moko prints was held at Auckland’s Depot Artspace in March 2019. Now in his nineties, Harry lives in Auckland. 

Publication: 9 June 2020  |  RRP $65  |  ISBN:  978-0-947506-77-3

Paperback, 330 x 250 mm, 100 pages, colour

Book giveaway: New Zealand Tattoo (2012)

New Zealand Tattoo was one of Oratia’s first really big books, launched in October 2012 at Real Groovy in Auckland and showcased at the Frankfurt Book Fair, where New Zealand was guest of honour that year.

With photographer Chris Hoult we conceived of a book that, like many works in the field, showcased tattoo design — but unlike most, looked at it from the tattooists’ perspective. Chris joined journalist Steve Forbes to interview and photograph tattoo artists in their studios, creating an extended photo essay about the art as it was in late 2011/early 2012.

With its large (330 x 250 mm) hardback format and rich colour reproduction, New Zealand Tattoo — in the home of the tattooist’s art gave air to the works and words of tattooists representing the three main strands of ta moko (Māori tattoo), tatau (Pasifika tattoo) and European traditions. Steve contributed a concise history of the art form as well. The book has stood the test of the intervening years and remains a collectors’ item for followers of tattoo here and overseas. 

To be in to win a copy of New Zealand Tattoo go to our Fb Page 

Prize available to New Zealand residents only. 

Competition closes on Monday 24 June, and winner announced on Tuesday 25 June.

New Zealand Tattoo on TV1's Good Morning

TV1 interviewed author Chris Hoult and tattoo model Chante Neblett on 5 November on the breakfast show Good Morning.

New Zealand Tattoo is launched

Yesterday was a memorable evening as Libro International launched New Zealand Tattoo at a huge event at Real Groovy in central Auckland.

Many of the tattooists and models featured in the book were there to celebrate the launch of this, the first book on contemporary New Zealand tattooing in almost 20 years. Our thanks and appreciation to all who supported the book, and especially to tattooing legend Merv O'Connor who spoke on behalf of the tattooists to support the launch. 

Photographer Chris Hoult and writer Steve Forbes were kept busy signing books after the formalities, with a great response to the book. Cheers to Marty O'Donnell and his team at Real Groovy for hosting the event - they have the book on special for $65 for a limited period. 

@ Real Groovy

the authors, Merv and Peter Dowling

what a wonderful book!

busy signing