Books

Moko – Maori Tattoo is the first published collection dedicated entirely to the traditional facial tattooing of the Māori people of Aotearoa, New Zealand. In this striking book, Hans Neleman presents a powerful series of portraits that capture the dignity, strength, and cultural pride of individuals who wear Moko, the sacred art of permanent skin marking that carries deep ancestral meaning.

Created in close collaboration with Māori elders and cultural leaders, the project was not only photographic but deeply respectful. The resulting images are not simply documentation, they are intimate, timeless studies that celebrate identity, resilience, and the revival of an important cultural tradition.

More than just visual records, the photographs in Moko–Maori Tattoo speak to a broader story of heritage and self-determination. Each portrait is filled with presence and purpose, revealing both the beauty and emotional weight of this ancient art form in its modern resurgence.