Bike crank

Design Story

This Polynesian band tattoo for the lower leg was prepared for Nilton and it includes elements from his life.

The most important ones in this tattoo are his family and biking.

On the front, a turtle represents his family as a place of harmony (the Marquesan cross), union (flax leaves and braids), and mutual support (the chasing birds).
It's surrounded by fish for prosperity, two tiki for protection, and a sun made of coconut leaves for joy and abundance, while the spearheads represent the warrior keeping the family protected.

The sun on the calf with two rows of birds and shark teeth going above and below it was designed to mimic a bike crank with the chain going around it and symbolizing voyage and safe return.
The lokahi symbol in the middle symbolizes harmony and balance with the world of man, nature, and spirits and there are two all-seeing eyes and a ipu with the breath of life next to them to symbolize Nilton's three children.

The colored image below shows the main elements within the tattoo: