Sua Sulu'ape Paulo II

Paulo was a master of skin art. This art is from Samoa. It is called tatau. Men get a tatau called a pe'a. Women get one called a malu. Paulo came from a family of masters. His father was also a master. Paulo shared his skill with the world. He lived in New Zealand for many years. He worked with many people there. His family still shares this art today.

Su'a Sulu'ape Paulo II was a master tattooist. He was a tufuga ta tatau. This is a master of the art of tatau. This art comes from Samoa.

In Samoa, people tell a legend about tatau. Two sisters named Tilafaiga and Taema brought the tools. They also brought the knowledge to Samoa. Men get a tatau called a pe'a. Women get a tatau called a malu.

Paulo was born into a top family of masters. His father was a well known tattooist. Paulo began his work in 1967. He moved to Auckland, New Zealand, in 1973. He worked during the day. He tattooed people in the evenings.

He shared his skill with many people. He met artists from all over the world. He even worked at a tattoo museum in Amsterdam. Some people thought his new ideas were controversial. They felt he changed the art too much.

Paulo died suddenly in 1999. His wife, Epifania, killed him with an axe. This was a big news event in New Zealand. Her trial was very famous. His family still carries on his work today.

Su'a Sulu'ape Paulo II was a master of the Samoan art of tatau. In Samoa, these masters are called tufuga ta tatau. This art is very special to the Samoan people. Men receive a tatau called a pe'a. Women receive a tatau called a malu. The word tattoo likely comes from the word tatau. Samoan legends say two sisters named Tilafaiga and Taema brought the tools and knowledge to the islands. This tradition is a deep part of their culture.

Paulo was born into a leading family of master tattooists. His father was a well-known master named Sulu'ape Paulo I. Paulo began his tattooing work in 1967. He was a student at Chanel College, a Catholic boarding school near Apia. Later, he moved to Auckland, New Zealand, in 1973. He worked jobs during the day to make a living. In the evenings and on weekends, he practiced his art for the Samoan community. He tattooed many important people, such as the artist Fatu Feu'u.

Paulo helped share his culture with the whole world. His brother, Su'a Sulu'ape Alaiva'a Petelo, visited a tattoo convention in Rome in 1985. This happened at the invitation of an American tattooist named Don Ed Hardy. Paulo followed his brothers and found new ways to share his skill in Europe. He built many connections with tattooists from different lands. He even stayed at the Tattoo Museum in Amsterdam for a time. He welcomed guests from far away to his home in Auckland.

His work was sometimes seen as controversial by some Samoans. This was because he liked to innovate and try new things. He wanted to share the art form beyond just the Samoan community. This helped the Sulu'ape name become famous at global tattoo conventions. Even after his sudden death in 1999, his family kept the tradition alive. His brother Alaiva'a Petelo and his sons all use the tools of the trade. They continue to spread the influence of their family name.

In 2009, a book called Tatau: Samoan Tattoo, New Zealand Art, Global Culture was published. This book shows his life through many photographs. A close friend named Mark Adams took these pictures over 30 years. The book also includes essays and interviews about his long career. Paulo's life was a big part of the history of art in the Pacific. His story links the old traditions of Samoa to the modern world of art.

Su'a Sulu'ape Paulo II was a highly skilled master tattooist known as a tufuga ta tatau. He belonged to one of the leading families of tattooists in Samoa. These families operate within a system similar to a guild. This system organizes masters and their apprentices to pass down traditional knowledge. In Samoa, the art of tatau is a vital cultural practice. Men receive a specific tattoo called a pe'a. Women receive a different style known as the malu. Many scholars believe the English word "tattoo" actually originated from the Samoan word "tatau."

Samoan mythology provides a legendary origin for this practice. The stories tell of two sisters named Tilafaiga and Taema. These sisters are credited with bringing the necessary tools and knowledge to Samoa. This tradition is not just about art; it is a deeply held cultural heritage. Paulo was born into this legacy in Matafa'a, near Lefaga, Samoa. His father, Sulu'ape Paulo I, was already a well-established master tattooist. This lineage provided Paulo with a foundation in a complex and respected craft.

Paulo's career began in 1967 while he was a student. He attended Chanel College, which is a Catholic boarding school near Apia. In 1973, he migrated to Auckland, New Zealand. This move placed him in a growing Samoan community. During his early years in Auckland, Paulo worked regular jobs during the day. He dedicated his evenings and weekends to tattooing. He served the local Samoan diaspora, including prominent figures like the artist Fatu Feu'u. He also tattooed the lawyer and activist Fuimaono Tuiasau.

As his reputation grew, Paulo developed connections with other indigenous cultures. He built strong relationships with the Maori people of New Zealand. His work reached beyond the Samoan community to include New Zealand artists like Tony Fomison. This period marked the beginning of his transition from a local practitioner to an international figure. His brothers, including Su'a Sulu'ape Petelo and Su'a Sulu'ape Lafaele, also became respected master tattooists. The Sulu'ape family name began to carry significant weight in the world of art.

In the 1980s, the family's influence expanded into Europe. In 1985, Paulo's brother, Su'a Sulu'ape Alaiva'a Petelo, attended a tattoo convention in Rome. This visit was an invitation from the American tattooist Don Ed Hardy. Paulo followed this path and spent the next decade sharing his skill in Europe. He established relationships with tattooists across the globe. He even completed residencies at the Tattoo Museum in Amsterdam. These stays were at the invitation of tattooist Henk Schiffmacher. He also welcomed international customers to his home in Auckland.

Paulo was a celebrated but sometimes controversial figure. Some members of the Samoan community questioned his desire to innovate. He sought to share the art form with people outside of the Samoan culture. This effort to modernize and globalize the practice was a defining part of his career. Despite the debate, his work helped the Sulu'ape name become famous at international conventions. His influence extended to the growing Samoan diaspora in Australia and the United States.

In November 1999, Paulo died suddenly following a domestic dispute. His wife, Epifania Sulu'ape, killed him with the blunt edge of an axe. This event occurred after he informed her of his plan to leave her for a Swedish woman named Heidi Hay. The legal proceedings following his death became a major media event in New Zealand. Epifania Sulu'ape was convicted of manslaughter and received a sentence of 7.5 years in prison. This tragic end marked the conclusion of his active career.

Even after his death, the Sulu'ape legacy continued through his family. His brother, Su'a Sulu'ape Alaiva'a Petelo, has maintained the family's international influence. His sons have also learned the craft and taken up the tools. In 2009, his life was documented in the book "Tatau: Samoan Tattoo, New Zealand Art, Global Culture." This book features photographs by Mark Adams, who observed Paulo for nearly 30 years. The publication includes essays and interviews that preserve the history of his work.