Nanati

Design Story

This mixed Polynesian half sleeve and pec tattoo was prepared for David.
It integrates a tattoo he had with the names of his children in Arabic adding the name of his wife in the same style all woven into their story.

Instead of being a single continuous design it is split into 4 well separated parts: the shoulder and outer arm, the armband, the pec, and a bit on the shoulder blade.

This allowed to keep the shoulder and outer arm part shaped as a mere, which is a symbol representing a chief, a leader, honor, and respect, and we placed a row of people inside of it, each one different from the other, with a Marquesan cross above them and a net below to symbolize how harmony between all cultures (all different people) is the way to bring prosperity and peace to them (coconut leaves shaping a sun, and the net).
Shark teeth and octopus tentacles are symbols of strength and adaptability.

The tiki on the back is for protection and there are a lizard and a hammerhead shark on the sides of the arm embracing the names of his children.

A turtle is central on the pec, surrounded by a braid symbolizing family unity showing the importance of family, with a couple holding and protecting three smaller people in the center, symbolizing their children.
Flax leaves are for family unity and tiki hands for protection.

Ancestors guard from above, and around the turtle there are elements representing family and closest friends, prosperity (trochus shells, fish), strength and adaptability (spearheads, centipede, shark teeth), teachings (stepping stones) and support always granted to the loved ones (chasing birds).

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