Tattoo of the week

This week Milky had the honour of recreating Quintin’s Grandfather’s tattoo.

The original tattoo was created but the late, great Merv O’Connor in 1970. 50 years on and it still looks incredible.

Sunset Tattoo is the home of some of New Zealand’s most celebrated tattooists, and located on Cross Street of Central Auckland, just behind iconic Karangahape Road (K Road). We specialise in timeless, professional tattoo styles such as Japanese, Maori, America/western traditional and black work. With a friendly team, a gorgeous studio and decades of knowledge we would love to help you with your next tattoo project. For more information, get in touch with us.

CONTACT:

www.sunsettattoo.co.nz

info@sunsettattoo.co.nz

(+649)3763423

The Great Auckland Flash Party 2020

Sunset Tattoo is excited to present The Great Auckland Flash Party 2020! 

Poster by Milky (@milky.tattoo)

We are absolutely stoked with our amazing line-up of some of the best traditional tattooers and leading innovators in the NZ tattoo scene. The two-day event will be held on Friday 6th and Saturday 7th of November.

We will have hundreds of line drawings new and classic ready to be tattooed, from some amazing artists from around NZ!

The two-day event will be completely Walk-ins only! All artist will be taking walk-ins, and it will be first in, first served. 

Doors open at 10 am so come in early to secure a spot! Hundreds of Designs at special flash day prices!

Don’t forget to follow us on our Facebook and Instagram to stay up to date with all the latest announcements leading up to the dates!

Artist Lineup: 

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Sunset Tattoo is the home of some of New Zealand’s most celebrated tattooists, and located on Cross Street of Central Auckland, just behind iconic Karangahape Road (K Road). We specialise in timeless, professional tattoo styles such as Japanese, Maori, America/western traditional and black work. With a friendly team, a gorgeous studio and decades of knowledge we would love to help you with your next tattoo project. For more information, get in touch with us.

CONTACT:

www.sunsettattoo.co.nz

info@sunsettattoo.co.nz

(+649)3763423

Horiyama's Yokai

Yōkai are the weird and wonderful creatures that derive from supernatural monsters, spirits and demons in Japanese Folklore. Yōkai means “bewitching” and “mysterious”.

Always mischievous and very occasionally bringing good fortune to those who cross paths.

~

Horiyama has created a world of her own with her interpretation of Yokai.

Introducing Horiyama’s Peony People…

A gorgeous pairing of two Peonies dressed in Traditional Japanese Kimono. Horiyama said “These little creatures are always dancing and look like they are up to no good, but that sounds fun to me!”

They are fun and cheeky, not at all evil!

~
She’s even created a few permanent peony people. Check out some of Horiyama’s work here:

Sunset Tattoo is the home of some of New Zealand’s most celebrated tattooists, and located on Cross Street of Central Auckland, just behind iconic Karangahape Road (K Road). We specialise in timeless, professional tattoo styles such as Japanese, Maori, America/western traditional and black work. With a friendly team, a gorgeous studio and decades of knowledge we would love to help you with your next tattoo project. For more information, get in touch with us.

CONTACT:

www.sunsettattoo.co.nz

info@sunsettattoo.co.nz

(+649)3763423

A Korero with Fern Ngatai

Kia Ora,

In honour of Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori (Māori Language week), I had the pleasure of sitting down with Fern for a korero (conversation) about her journey with Te Reo Maori and Tattooing Tā moko.

Jack: Where did your journey with speaking Te Reo Maori begin?

Fern: I learnt Te Reo Maori through school. My dad is Maori and my mum is Pakeha. My dad has a huge family but none of them spoke Te Reo, they grew up in the time where their language was pushed out of them and Te Reo wasn’t allowed to be spoken. They all attended Catholic school and didn’t learn about Te Reo Maori so my parents decided that they didn’t want to raise us that way. My sisters and I went to Bi-linguial school and thats where I learnt Te Reo Maori.

Jack: How do you incorporate Te Reo into your daily life?

Fern: I don’t speak it as much as I would like to but that comes down to environment. I speak it at home with my housemate Katelyn, at Moko Wananga and with clients. Its a way of thinking and a way of life so in my personal life I honour it more. Ultimately it’s my outlook on life. Thats what I am trying to tap into in the studio is to create an environment where it shines through more. But it’s a journey and happens slowly.

Jack: When did you start recognising the imagery and how has that had an influence on your life/ creative outlets?

Fern: When I was younger, I was really intrigued about our Maori Myths and Legends and the stories they held. There would always be Kowhaiwhai patterns in the Marae and books so from a young age I was so intrigued and thought they were so beautiful. Then when I was older I slowly started learning about the meanings behind the patterns and looking at something knowing there is a story behind it. For example Ta Moko comes from our Kowhaiwhai patterns in our Marae and on our boats.

Then I started drawing Moko and playing around with it when I was about 12 and recognised that this was what I wanted to do. It just came so instinctively. There was no instagram back then and limited images on Google but I used to look at these images and just had a feeling I knew that was going to be me (creating Ta Moko). During school, all of my books were filled with Moko and I had a lot of encouragement from teachers to look into tattooing. I wanted it to happen as naturally as possible, which it did!

Jack: What was the process from getting your first Ta Moko to getting an apprenticeship?

Fern: I received my first Ta Moko when I was 16 from Gordon Toi. I saw my sister get hers when I was 12 and knew I wanted to get my first one so I begged my mum and when I was 16 she let me. The deal was if my sister got one then I could get one. She got her sternum done and I got my back done.

The apprenticeship offer came from Tristan (Manawa Tapu). My brother told me I needed to check out his work and I fell in love with it instantly! I booked in and got tattooed by him at Sunset Tattoo. Then he started following my instagram account that was dedicated to drawing. Shortly after my 21st, I had a DM from him asking if I wanted to come into the studio to talk with him and Tom about an apprenticeship. I freaked out about it but came in and the rest is history. As I said earlier, I wanted it to happen naturally and it did, but with a lot of hard work.

Jack: How has starting your tattooing journey influenced your relationship with Te Ao Maori?

Fern: This journey is making me go deeper into my culture and learning and understand the meanings of Moko. Getting my foot in the door with Sunset Tattoo has opened up so many doors for my learning and opportunities like getting to go to Moko Wananga. It has really just putting me in the places I need to be to grow for myself but also as an artist!

Jack: What would your piece of advice be to someone wanting to get their first Tā moko?

Fern: Do your research! Find the right artist that you feel connected to and that you trust because your tattoo is on your for life. Go to your Iwi. Go to people you resonate with. Have a consultation with them. Ask about them. Do you research and think about the reasons why you want to get Moko. It holds Mana! Talk to your family, talk to the right artists, talk to people who have received Moko. Just do your research, theres no rush.

There are 3 questions to think about:

1. What do you want it to represent?

2. Why do you want it now?

3. Why do you want it on that placement?

Go deeper that just something on your skin!

Jack: Any famous last works Fern?

Fern: Just be kind to one another. Tell your aunty you love her. Tell your nana you love her. Go hug more people (not during Covid). Straight up just be nice to people. Smile at people. Ask them how their day is. Honestly do it! It makes a difference!

Jack: Thanks for your time Fern!

…

Sunset Tattoo is the home of some of New Zealand’s most celebrated tattooists, and located on Cross Street of Central Auckland, just behind iconic Karangahape Road (K Road). We specialise in timeless, professional tattoo styles such as Japanese, Maori, America/western traditional and black work. With a friendly team, a gorgeous studio and decades of knowledge we would love to help you with your next tattoo project. For more information, get in touch with us.

CONTACT:
www.sunsettattoo.co.nz
info@sunsettattoo.co.nz
(+649)3763423

The Mercury Plaza Update

Kia Ora

Hope everyone has been having a fantastic week and enjoying the glimpse of sunshine and blue skies making an appearance! There are some exciting things brewing downstairs at The Mercury Plaza so make sure you’re following them on Insta to keep up to date! Lucky for you, heres a summary of everything thats going on…

COMPETITION TIME

During the month of September, every $10 spent at The Mercury Plaza is an entry in to win $1000 worth of Tattoo Vouchers from Sunset Tattoo! This is HUGE! The winner can redeem the vouchers with their artist/s of choice!

The winner will be drawn on the 1st of October!

THE DRAWING SHOW

A collective show celebrating the art of drawing and illustration! With a wide range of incredibly talented artists and creatives, this is one you don’t want to miss! Running through til the end of September at The Mercury Plaza. For a full list of artists, see below.

Opening night is Friday 18 September, 6pm-9pm.

CHRISTMAS MARKETS

Calling one, calling all! We are currently on the hunt for amazing artists, crafters, designers, makers and cool people with interesting stuff to sell! We have little pop up shop options, or sale on consignment, for our upcoming market. If this sounds like you, or someone you know we’d love to hear from you!

Please email hello@themercuryplaza.co.nz for more information or to apply!

Basque Cheesecake, Roast pumpkin, spinach, feta & dukkah Salad, Passionfruit Tarts & Apple Crumble tarts

FOOD AND DRINK

And last but not least… Our amazing Chef and Baker dream team, Ryan and Claudia are absolute magicians in the kitchen whipping up delicious treats on the daily. If you’re thinking of a spot for lunch, stop by and try something off the new À la carte menu served from 11am-2pm!

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That’s enough for now team, but you get the idea! Loads of exciting things are coming up at The Mercury Plaza so give them a follow on the gram to stay up to date!

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Sunset Tattoo is the home of some of New Zealand’s most celebrated tattooists, and located on Cross Street of Central Auckland, just behind iconic Karangahape Road (K Road). We specialise in timeless, professional tattoo styles such as Japanese, Maori, America/western traditional and black work. With a friendly team, a gorgeous studio and decades of knowledge we would love to help you with your next tattoo project. For more information, get in touch with us.

CONTACT:
www.sunsettattoo.co.nz
info@sunsettattoo.co.nz
(+649)3763423