Feololo

Design Story

This legband tattoo in the Samoan style was prepared for Dave to represent his life.

The family (flax leaves) appears centrally both on the back and front of the leg to symbolize its unending importance in the past as well as in the future, with the son being central (the star next to the flax leaves on the front) helping Dave to find a new perspective upon life (the frigate bird next to the star).
Spearheads and shark teeth on its sides symbolize the warrior who fights with adaptability and strength to protect him.

On the sides of the ankle the fa´atigipusa motif represents pain, and we used it with thorns to symbolize two painful moments.
The lines above them going toward the front symbolize the voyage done to overcome them.

The birds net, trochus shell, fish and pandanus leaves symbolize prosperity.
The stepping stones at the base are the lessons learnt and the octopus tentacle on top represents tenacity and adaptability to face the changes that led him from the past to present and future.

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