How I came to acquire my title and be recognized world wide as the first known woman in history of the ancient art form of traditional hand-tap is a long story.
Let’s see now…
Long, long ago, in a land far, far way...
It began in USA where I was a busy gal working in the tattoo industry. One lucky day I had the opportunity to meet and get to know Leo Zuluetta, a very world renown tattoo artist famous for bringing tribal styles to the tattoo community and to the public, sky-rocketing its popularity. His art style is to this day very well liked.
At a social tattoo function I was courageous and approached Leo saying, "Excuse me, but are you Leo Zuluetta?" "Yes", he said. And we talked. That is how I met Leo, which was an intrinsic part of my history that brings me to where I am now.
While tattooing at a shop that Leo had sold when he retired, I had another wonderful opportunity to have many conversations and learn a lot about a very special man by the name of Sulu'ape Paulo. I learned that this was a man that tattooed in the unique hand-tap style that I had read about as a child, and been enlightened more about over the years. I had always associated with the tribal tattoo artists. And here I was talking with this man who I learned was a Chief and a member of an elite family where the hand-tap tattooing had been handed down through his family for over 5000 years!
Soon thereafter, a sad event of Sulu’ape Paulo passing suddenly prevented our meeting physically although we had come to know and grow fond of each other. His untimely death shook the tattoo industry for he was famous throughout Europe and North America and known as the father of tribal tattooing.
As fate would have it, at a tattoo convention held in Tahiti in 2000, not only as the first tattoo celebration in 200 years allowed in Tahiti, but as a memorial to Sulu'ape Paulo, I was lucky enough to be there in person. I noticed, there stood the brother of Sulu’ape Paulo and I approached him.
"Excuse me, I am Angela, I am very sorry about your brother, Paulo. He was a good man. I have heard that you are the best traditional hand-tap tattoo artist in the world. May I sit and watch you work?"
He shook my hand, and nodded “Yes”. And so I sat. I watched. And I was moved... It was so beautiful to watch. The patterns that flowed from his hand were astounding! I had never seen anything like this before. I had read about traditional hand-tap tattooing in National Geographic as a child...but I thought it was dead. I thought the only hand style left was the Japanese, when here it was, right in front of me being done by a genuine tattoo artist whose family WAS a true tribal tattooing family.
After several hours of watching and inadvertently helping, he took a break and then spoke. He introduced himself in heavy Samoan accented English as Su'a Sulu'ape Petelo. This formal introduction became my direction.
So over 2 years, at several different conventions in Europe, I met up with Sua Sulu’ape Petelo and helped him any way I could. Although I had became a stretcher, I wanted to learned a lot more from him. I had watched Sua Sulu’ape Petelo hold the Sau Sau (mallet like tapping implement) and took in as much as I could possibly observe.
One day back in New Zealand, I attended another convention, and spent as much time with Sua Sulu’ape Petelo as possible. At a house Sua Sulu’ape Petelo was staying, he had just finished a tattoo, and left me alone...with the tools...all by myself...in a room...with his tattooing implements.
Curiosity overcame me and I reached out and took an au (invasive tattooing implement pronounced ow) into my hands. I picked up the Sau Sau, and held it the way I knew it should be held, and acted to strike them together they way I had seen Sua Sulu’ap Petelo use them. All of a sudden a cold feeling crept down my spine, sending a blood freezing cold shiver throughout my body, and I knew I was being watched. Slowly I turned my head, and there he was. Sua Sulu’ape Petelo.
This powerful, stout Samoan standing in the doorway, leaning on the frame, arms crossed and peering down on me with an emotionless stone cold look on his face. I truly believed I had done something horribly wrong. He would never forgive me. I gingerly put the tools down, and let out a nervous, pathetic laugh, and said "uh, um... eh sorry"
He said nothing, and walked away. For two days I worried I had offended him, as he said nothing to me until taking me aside and he finally spoke. He said, "Angela".
Slowly, I looked up at him, sadness was in my eyes, for I really believed he had to just hate me. I had cursed his tools.
"Do you want to learn?" he asked.
"What?" I asked surprised and believing I hadn't heard him correctly.
"Do you want to learn? Do you want to be the woman I teach the hand tap?" he repeated.
I looked at him astonished, " Why me?" I asked, "Why not a Polynesian woman?"
He replied to me:
"Because you love everybody, no matter their color, race, sex or religion. And you cannot Ta'Pe'a (tattoo the Pe'a) and be a man hater. Your Mana cannot be angry towards men, and change a boy into a man."
I said, “Yes”.
When I told Sua Sulu’ape Petelo I had thought that a woman couldn’t touch the tools because it was tabu, all he did was heartily laugh.
And that is how it all began. I packed everything up back home and flew to Samoa. I lived there for over a year, learning the art, how to properly stretch, their customs, their ceremonies, and their ways. I also self taught myself half their language. I am still learning the language in hopes to learn all of it.
My teacher is Su'a Sulu'ape Petelo. He is the top traditional Hand-Tap Tattoo Artist in the World and that is also what he is well known for.
During this life changing adventure, my mom was my spiritual guidance. She supported my good fortune as she does to this day.
Sua Sulu’ape Petelo is a very particular person, and to be chosen by him is an honor and it is history in the making. It meant everything to me to have someone recognize my potential and see it through and to allow me to be a pioneer in the world of traditional tattoo. I earned my first title of Sulu’ape by being his student, and finishing my apprenticeship, and proving that I have the heart to do this. I have been given the blessing to do all forms of tribal tattoo that I can do hand tap, and only limited by my heart. I am preparing to earn the additional title of Sua showing my teacher I can tattoo with grace.
Contact Sulu'ape Angela at suluape.angela@tat2inc.com