Manu Farrarons (born 1967) is a French-born Polynesian

tattoo artist A tattoo artist (also tattooer or tattooist) is an individual who applies permanent decorative tattoos, often in an established business called a "tattoo shop", "tattoo studio" or "tattoo parlour". Tattoo artists usually learn their craft via a ...

. Farrarons' art is a mix of Polynesian styles and designs, mostly Tahitian and

Marquesan The Marquesas Islands (; french: Îles Marquises or ' or '; Marquesan: ' ( North Marquesan) and ' (South Marquesan), both meaning "the land of men") are a group of volcanic islands in French Polynesia, an overseas collectivity of France in th ...

, which he mixes with

Māori Māori or Maori can refer to: Relating to the Māori people * Māori people of New Zealand, or members of that group * Māori language, the language of the Māori people of New Zealand * Māori culture * Cook Islanders, the Māori people of the Co ...

and

Hawaii Hawaii ( ; haw, Hawaii or ) is a state in the Western United States, located in the Pacific Ocean about from the U.S. mainland. It is the only U.S. state outside North America, the only state that is an archipelago, and the only ...

an influences.

Biography

Born in 1967 in Cholet (France), of a painter mother and tattoo artist father, he spent his childhood in

Tahiti Tahiti (; Tahitian ; ; previously also known as Otaheite) is the largest island of the Windward group of the Society Islands in French Polynesia. It is located in the central part of the Pacific Ocean and the nearest major landmass is Aust ...

and was immersed in Polynesian life and culture. At an early age he started drawing Tahitian and Marquesan designs. After finishing high school, he studied to become a school teacher. Even during his time as a school teacher, he increased his knowledge of Polynesian designs by researching them in Tahiti and Hawaii, where he had access to anthropological archives stored at Bishop Museum of Honolulu. Manu has been tattooing professionally since 1991, after he left his job as a school teacher in order to fulfill his passion. His father opened the first professional tattoo shop in Tahiti, which he owned until he passed it down to Manu. He started tattooing when he was age 15. He took over his father’s tattoo shop in

Papeete Papeete ( Tahitian: ''Papeete'', pronounced ) is the capital city of French Polynesia, an overseas collectivity of the French Republic in the Pacific Ocean. The commune of Papeete is located on the island of Tahiti, in the administrative subdivisi ...

, and renamed it "Mana’o Tattoo". In the Tahitian language the word "Mana’o" means "idea, knowledge or thought".

Prizes and honors

*2018 - Featured in December issue of Tattoo Magazine USA *2016 - Best of Day - NZ Tattoo & Art Festival, Taranaki, New Zealand *2016 - Best Tribal artist - Art Gathering LA, Long Beach CA *2015 - Best Tribal Artist - INK N IRON, Long Beach CA *2015 - Air Tahiti Nui ambassador *2013 - 1st Place open category Polynesia Tatau Convention, Tahiti *2011 - Best Tribal Artist - INK & IRON, Long Beach CA *2010 - 2nd Best Polynesian (male) Sydney Tattoo Expo, Australia *2010 - 2nd Best Polynesian (female) Sydney Tattoo Expo, Australia *2008 - Best Tribal Artist - INK & IRON, Long Beach CA *2005 - Best of day, Tattoonesia convention, Moorea, French Polynesia

Gallery

Full back.jpg, "Ocean Spirit" Full back by Manu Farrarons Manutattoo10.jpg, Flowing feminine freehand tattoo by Manu Farrarons Manutattoo1.jpg, Leg tattooed by Manu Farrarons. Freehand

References

*Allen, Tricia (2010). ''The Polynesian Tattoo Today'', p. 10, 19, 29, 58, 59, 63, 92, 244, 245. Mutual Publishing, Hawai'i. . *

External links

Official website.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Farrarons French artists Tattoo artists People from Tahiti Polynesian culture Tiki culture Living people 1967 births