More than ink on skin, Patutiki artfully represents a holistic vision of both the natural and spiritual world and humankind’s place within it, a ritual practice that evolved over a thousand years far from elsewhere: in place known as “the land of men.”

The idea of a documentary about Marquesan art of tattooing was first initiated by Teiki Huukena, President of the Patutiki association. He is the author of 2 books about Marquesan tattoo and is considered as an expert about the Marquesan iconographic art, the Matatiki. His researches on these subjets led him to write articles published in the Quai Branly museum (Paris), Museum of Tahiti and in other scientific publications. He was an historical and cultural consultant on the project, working closely with the 2 directors of the movie, Heretu Tetahiotupa and Christophe Cordier.

Why make this movie?

Christophe Cordier: “With Marquesan tattoo motifs becoming more and more popular among the global tattooing community, we wanted first to give credit where credit was due. But more than that, we wanted people to understand how patutiki helped preserve a people’s dying culture. Heretu and I felt compelled to document this important connection.”

Heretu Tetahiotupa: “People’s attraction to Marquesan tattoo is mostly aesthetic, but there’s much more to patutiki than its distinctive designs. We wanted people to become aware of the spiritual dimension and how each motif was a key to understanding how the ancients perceived the world. People are drawn to these symbols without knowing why. The Marquesans see patutiki as a magical manifestation of their predecessors’ past. For more than a thousand years, master tattoo artists and shamans connected to the spirit of our ancestors, re-created rituals transferring mana every time they practiced their art.”

Christophe Cordier: “I wanted to pay homage to this magnificent and little-known culture, all but vanquished a short hundred years ago. French missionaries and government banned the practice of tattoo, deemed it an unhealthy animist tradition. At the same time, disease and suicide nearly terminated the Marquesan people, reducing their number to only 2,000. It’s a miracle their culture survived. Through ingenious efforts, the survivors protected it. For instance, in the film, we tell the story of Moeava, a sculptor who, fearing patutiki’s disappearance, cut into wood the motifs marked on his elderly body, thus preserving its legacy. It seems an obvious thing to do, but it wasn’t.  His determination spurred remarkable ingenuity. As a result, against all odds, the motifs of patutiki prevail, . . . not only in the Marquesas, but around the world.”

Heretu Tetahiotupa: “The Marquesan culture owes much to the priceless work of German ethnologist Karl Von den Steinen. His prior experience studying Central Brazilian Amerindian peoples taught him the importance of language. As a result, prior to his arrival in 1896-97, Karl learned Marquesan. During his six months among the people, he painstakingly documented in great detail Marquesan tattoos, sculptures, legends, objects, costumes, genealogies, and more. His anthropological opus safeguarded more than half of our heritage. In 1920, the female American scientist Willowdean Handy deepened Von den Steinen’s depictions by contributing Marquesan women, who revealed to her their most intimate tattoos. The Marquesan culture is holistic, that is to say that its various elements are interconnected, braided together. Our efforts in making this documentary felt somehow guided, channeled by the ancestors, helping us make their voice heard by the greater global village in a voice as authentic as we were able to share.”

Christophe Cordier: “It would have been a mistake to make the 1980’s Marquesan tattoo renaissance the starting point of our documentary, neglecting patutiki’s greater cultural significance, its enduring stake in Marquesan society and its overall affirmation of Marquesan spirituality. In ancient times, everyone sought greater mana through tattoo, the spiritual force that accompanied each action. Marquesans of today, especially the elderly, feel great pride in and responsibility for sharing their unique culture, a heritage nearly lost. We were fortunate that they were still here, and to have been provided the time and means necessary to respectfully document and re-enact patutiki’s fascinating tale. Providing today’s Marquesans a venue by which to personally share the story of their people was a privilege and an honor for which I remain eternally grateful.”