Tattooists from around the world are gathering in Tahiti for the
island's first ever traditional tattoo convention.
With so much international participation it is believed
"Tattoonesia" will spark a major revival of the traditional art
form.
Tattoonesia has attracted enthusiasts in what is believed to be a major revival of the traditional art form.
It is not quite how the ancestors did it, replacing human bones and turtle shell with a more modern needle, but the final result reflects the history.
Many say the traditional art form of tattoo was suppressed by colonialism and missionaries for over a century, but now it is back.
And it is in Tahiti that traditional tattooists from around the Pacific, including New Zealand, have come together for the first time on a grand scale.
But it is not only Pacific people who have come to Tattoonesia - there is also a delegation of Europeans and Americans.
While there are all types of tattoos on offer to the public, there is no doubting the drawcard - the use of a shark's tooth as the needle.
It is such a painful process that they have to take regular breaks so the person getting tattooed can recover.
But regardless of the method, Tahitian tatoo artist, James Samuela says there is a common reason for wanting a traditional tattoo.
"They want something that has real meaning and that is traditional tattoo. That is our culture."
