Meet Ataera Manu Davey, illustrator, tattoo artist, and avid manga reader. Davey graduated seven years ago from Toihoukura, Gisbourne’s Māori visual art course, and has been tattooing at Raglan Tattoo for the last three years.
Ataera’s work explores dimensionality, through a combination of graphic contrast and subtle layering of ink, acrylic, graphite, colour pencil, charcoal, and Staedtler liner pens, and has been exploring with mdf lamination lately too. “It’s cool to take something like a circle, something without dimensions and add dimensionality into it. I was so inspired by Sandy Adsett MNZM when I was studying…his unusual use of colour, his use of simple shapes as the basis of his work.”
“I find other tattoo artists – particularly those from the Japanese tradition a source of endless inspiration. Kanō Hōgai, an 18th century Japanese painter, is one of my favourites. Haewall (Korea), Sir Derek Lardelli, ONZM are all artists who I have so much respect for…I really value authenticity of work, the uniqueness of style and originality. I’m very attracted to work which pushes into unknown spaces at a super high standard.”
Despite a heavy tattoo schedule, Davey passionately dedicates himself to his artistic practice; the manga tattoos he has become known for and his illustrative work. “Some days it’s just not happening and if I push it, I end up hating what I’ve made. You’re your biggest critic, always…it’s good to be able to shift away from works in progress and then come back to them later in a different headspace.”
“What does the future hold? Someday I want to have my own tattoo studio, work more with wood, become known for the standard of my work, do only Manga. But really, I’m already living my dream every day.”
See more of Ataera’s work at Made Gallery, or book at Raglan Tattoo.
@rooks__tattoo
By Sarah Bing – ceramic artist
About the writer – Sarah Bing is a ceramic artist based in Upper Wainui Road
