past event
TYPEFACE: Live Tattoo Session and DJ Linda T.
Wednesday 9 May 2018
5:30pm
![](/media/cache/54/bd/54bd8f46f1b90f8f31e17972e6aba6c8.jpg)
Please join us for the opening night event TYPEFACE: Live Tattoo Session featuring tattoo artist Andy Tauafiafi from Taupou Tatau Studio and tattoo volunteer Michelle Healey, with DJ Linda T. Wednesday 9 May, 5:30–7:30pm
Typeface continues an ongoing project by Vaimaila Urale that explores the dynamics of communication and social exchange. Beginning in 2012 from a collaboration with media artist Johann Norte, this expansive body of work brings together two distinct knowledge systems: traditional Polynesian design and the standardised symbols found on computer keyboards.
Working with four repeated characters (< greater than, > less than, / forward slash, \ back slash) that are used in ASCII—the American Standard Code for Information Interchange in electronic communications—Urale has developed paintings, murals, site-specific installations, tattoo designs and performances. Her approach hinges on active collaboration with other practitioners and volunteers, and a specific interest in mark-making practices.
For her site-specific installation for Enjoy Public Art Gallery, Urale has developed a tatau design that builds a dialogue between the architecture of the body and Enjoy’s gallery space. The design is presented as both a large-scale temporary mural and as permanent marks on the body across the sternum. These marks will be made during a live tattoo performance on opening night in collaboration with Wellington-based tattoo artist Andy Tauafiafi, accompanied by DJing from Urale’s long-time collaborator Linda T. of D.A.N.C.E Art Club.
View photos from the event on our Facebook page
Image: Vaimaila Urale, TYPEFACE – Live Tattoo Session & Public Mural, 2016. Image courtesy of Janneth Gil and Toi Moroki Centre of Contemporary Art
![Linda T., TYPEFACE: Live Tattoo Session, 2018. Image courtesy of Shaun Matthews and Enjoy Public Art Gallery.](/media/cache/aa/e2/aae232e60f928a336bf67e58038c5eff.jpg)
Linda T., TYPEFACE: Live Tattoo Session, 2018. Image courtesy of Shaun Matthews and Enjoy Public Art Gallery.
![TYPEFACE: Live Tattoo Session, 2018. Image courtesy of Shaun Matthews and Enjoy Public Art Gallery.](/media/cache/c3/20/c320b184747ecfc9ecd33c7f5bee9b7a.jpg)
TYPEFACE: Live Tattoo Session, 2018. Image courtesy of Shaun Matthews and Enjoy Public Art Gallery.
![TYPEFACE: Live Tattoo Session, 2018. Image courtesy of Shaun Matthews and Enjoy Public Art Gallery.](/media/cache/cb/73/cb738adbd1b9e63a777be0d4e3fc5df3.jpg)
TYPEFACE: Live Tattoo Session, 2018. Image courtesy of Shaun Matthews and Enjoy Public Art Gallery.
![Andy Tauafiafi and Michelle Healey, TYPEFACE: Live Tattoo Session, 2018. Image courtesy of Shaun Matthews and Enjoy Public Art Gallery.](/media/cache/db/0b/db0bb32a934bb280769fc571f6562085.jpg)
Andy Tauafiafi and Michelle Healey, TYPEFACE: Live Tattoo Session, 2018. Image courtesy of Shaun Matthews and Enjoy Public Art Gallery.
![Andy Tauafiafi and Michelle Healey, TYPEFACE: Live Tattoo Session, 2018. Image courtesy of Shaun Matthews and Enjoy Public Art Gallery.](/media/cache/c2/65/c26576d33b84016d0353f487dd9f5545.jpg)
Andy Tauafiafi and Michelle Healey, TYPEFACE: Live Tattoo Session, 2018. Image courtesy of Shaun Matthews and Enjoy Public Art Gallery.
![Andy Tauafiafi and Michelle Healey, TYPEFACE: Live Tattoo Session, 2018. Image courtesy of Shaun Matthews and Enjoy Public Art Gallery.](/media/cache/e2/93/e2937bde5aa4563c2adc5bbd147a89f1.jpg)
Andy Tauafiafi and Michelle Healey, TYPEFACE: Live Tattoo Session, 2018. Image courtesy of Shaun Matthews and Enjoy Public Art Gallery.
![Andy Tauafiafi and Michelle Healey, TYPEFACE: Live Tattoo Session, 2018. Image courtesy of Shaun Matthews and Enjoy Public Art Gallery.](/media/cache/e4/e8/e4e830853b4a1f6244d9c0eb36ab1b36.jpg)
Andy Tauafiafi and Michelle Healey, TYPEFACE: Live Tattoo Session, 2018. Image courtesy of Shaun Matthews and Enjoy Public Art Gallery.
![Michelle Healey, TYPEFACE: Live Tattoo Session, 2018. Image courtesy of Shaun Matthews and Enjoy Public Art Gallery.](/media/cache/5a/9e/5a9ecc6fe9b20eb4e00414a1dc5c7f64.jpg)
Michelle Healey, TYPEFACE: Live Tattoo Session, 2018. Image courtesy of Shaun Matthews and Enjoy Public Art Gallery.