MEDIA RELEASE
6 November, 2008
Tattoo Artists Converge On Tahiti
Two New Zealand tattoo artists will join tattooists from all over the globe as they converge on Tahiti today for one of
the world’s largest tattoo festivals.
Kiwis Netane Singh-Lagah and Dwayne Maihi will compete against tattoo artists from countries as far afield as Belgium,
Poland, Croatia, France and Canada through to the Easter Islands, Guam, Solomon Islands and Hawaii at the fourth annual
International Tattoo Festival, Tattoonesia.
“Tattoonesia is expected to attract more than 10,000 visitors over the four days of the festival,” says Robert Thompson, Regional
Director, Tahiti Tourisme. “This level of interest reflects the high regard in which Polynesian tattooing as an art form
is held and provides a great forum for some of the world’s best tattoo artists to demonstrate their skills and promote
their art.”
Polynesian tattooing is one of the seven main tattoo styles along with Japanese, American, European, African, Arabic and
tribal tattooing. According to the event organizers, there are more than 200,000 tattooists around the world and it is
estimated that in excess of 200 million people have tattoos.
Events at the four day festival include tattoo beauty awards, exhibitions and documentary films and promotion of French
Polynesian culture.
The Festival Tatau I Tahiti – Tattoonesia is held from November 6th to 9th at the Aorai Tini Hau Centre in Tahiti.
ENDS