Raupi-half-sleeve

Design Story

We called raupi (which means to protect, to care for) this design for a half sleeve requested by Andreas.

The central part is made of a turtle surrounded by a sun, to symbolize joy and family. The tiki on the shell symbolizes protection against any adversity (moray eels) and just above it are the stylized head letters of Andrea´s daughter.

Below the tiki, the manta is an element of protection that symbolizes freedom and beauty; the elements of the arm band have korus (birth, new life) and mangopare motifs (determination and strength).

Spear heads symbolize strength and the warrior; the dolphin and the shark, reaching to the neck where they integrate with an existing shark tattoo are symbols of strength, adaptability, joy ans sociality.