Manu Farrarons is a Polynesiantattoo 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, 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 languagethe 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. 2014 - Featured in the France TélévisionsTV 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 Sydney Tattoo Expo, Australia 2010 - 2nd Best Polynesian 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.
