Eugene Ta’ase
Skin Design Tattoo Artist
Polynesian tattoos are highly representative of a culture and way of life. These illustrious tattoos take pride in revealing the family unit, and in its simplest form, Polynesian tattoos speak volumes about history, as behind each piece is a story longing to be heard. Every line, every shape takes on a visual aesthetic and it’s a style to be interpreted by those in the know.
That said, you no longer have to travel over 4,000 miles to get an authentic Polynesian tatau. They are now available right here in Las Vegas way of our resident Skin Design Tattoo artist, Eugene Ta’ase – a master of his craft in the area of Polynesian tattoos.
Born in California, but raised in the South Pacific island of American Samoa, Eugene adopted an early appreciation for tatau – the traditional tattoo of Samoa – and since then he’s dedicated his life to the practice and the perfection of his craft.
The skill of Polynesian art is both earned and learned. Artists who want to pursue this path in life have been known to acquire the skills and knowledge by having it passed down from father to son, or master to disciple. Tattoo artists are often refereed to as “tufuga” and the learned craft is one which is sacred in nature and even harder to come by.
Considered a specialty art, Polynesian tattoo artists are a rare breed. The information they deliver is powerful and it’s a form of body art which is know to offer spiritual power, protection and strength. In addition, these tattoos are a sign of character, position and hierarchical levels and in short, can often be seen as a resume of your life’s experiences.
In all, Polynesian people firmly believe that an individual’s mana – which is their spiritual life force – is displayed through their tattoos. We encourage you to explore the fascinating world of Polynesian tattoos with SDT and always remember that tattoos and their meanings don’t change, it’s just the people who wear them that do.