Manu Farrarons
Manu Farrarons is a Polynesian tattoo artist born in France in 1967, who grew up in Tahiti. With his Polynesian designs, he contributes to the art of tattooing.
Farrarons' art is a mix of Polynesian styles and designs, mostly Tahitian and Marquesan, which he mixes with Māori and Hawaiian influences.
Biography
Born in 1967 in Cholet (France), of a painter mother and tattoo artist father, he spent his childhood in Tahiti and was immersed in Polynesian life and culture. At an early age he started drawing Tahitian and Marquesan designs.
His father opened the first professional tattoo shop in Tahiti, which he owned until he passed it down to Manu. He started tattooing when he was age 15.
After finishing high school, he studied to become a school teacher. Even during his time as a school teacher, he increased his knowledge of Polynesian designs by researching them in Tahiti and Hawaii, where he had access to anthropological archives stored at Bishop Museum of Honolulu.
Career
Manu has been tattooing professionally since 1991, after he left his job as a school teacher in order to fulfill his passion. He took over his father’s tattoo shop in Papeete, Tahiti, and renamed it "Mana’o Tattoo". In the Tahitian language the word "Mana’o" means "idea, knowledge or thought".
Prizes and honors
2018 - Featured in December issue of Tattoo Magazine USA
2016 - Best of Day - NZ Tattoo & Art Festival, Taranaki, New Zealand
2016 - Best Tribal artist - Art Gathering LA, Long Beach CA
2015 - Best Tribal Artist - INK N IRON , Long Beach CA
2015 - Air Tahiti Nui ambassador[1] · [1].
2014 - Featured in the France Télévisions TV documentary "Tatau, la culture d'un art"
2014 - President Of the Jury - Polynesia Tatau Convention Tahiti
2013 - 1st Place open category Polynesia Tatau Convention, Tahiti
2011 - Best Tribal Artist - INK & IRON, Long Beach CA
2010 - 2nd Best Polynesian (male) Sydney Tattoo Expo, Australia
2010 - 2nd Best Polynesian (female) Sydney Tattoo Expo, Australia
2008 - Best Tribal Artist - INK & IRON, Long Beach CA
2005 - Best of day, Tattoonesia convention, Moorea, French Polynesia
Manu left Tahiti and his studio to settle in Los Angeles in 2015. He opened his new studio "Mana'o Tattoo Los Angeles" in February 2018.
References
- Air Tahiti Nui. "Manu Farrarons". Air Tahiti Nui (in French). p. 1.
Manu Farrarons, un artiste Polynésien à Los Angeles.
- Allen, Tricia (2010). The Polynesian Tattoo Today, p. 10, 19, 29, 58, 59, 63, 92, 244, 245. Mutual Publishing, Hawai'i. ISBN 978-1-56647-921-9.
- Paul, Garson (2010). Tattoo Magazine USA, p. 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51. Paisano Publications, LLC. Manu Farrarons, idea with deep roots ISSN 1041-3146.
- Bob Baxter (2014-05-04). "Interview with Polynesian Tattoo Artist Manu Farrarons". Archived from the original on 2014-12-22. Retrieved 2014-12-22.
- Société d'exploitation Les Nouvelles SARL, ed. (2008-06-26). "Manu Farrarons, Elu Best Tribal artist". Polynésie française. p. 17. ISSN 0153-7717.
- "Manu Farrarons - Polynesian tattoo artist". 2014-11-10.
- Michelle Schusterman (2012-05-03). "20 iconic tattoo shops around the world".
Mana’o is the studio-home of Manu Farrarons, arguably the most famous Tahitian tattoo artist alive today. In 2011, he was named Best Tribal Tattoo Artist at the Ink n Iron International Tattoo Festival in Long Beach, CA.