Maori Tattoo Photo #223

Maori body art, known as Ta Moko, is one of the oldest and most meaningful forms of permanent marking in the world. Unlike decorative ink chosen from a flash sheet, traditional Moko tells the story of a person's ancestry, social standing, and life achievements through a precise visual language of curves, spirals, and symmetry.

Inspired by jewelry, architecture, and textile patterns, ornamental tattoos create intricate, decorative compositions on the skin. Precision and symmetry are key, giving these pieces an almost meditative quality.

The collarbone's clean horizontal line provides a natural guide for elongated designs. This placement adds a subtle accent to the upper body and works especially well with fine-line and minimalist styles.