I.D.

Identity of a colonized society
In an age of global multiculturalism and an ever increasing search for identity the project I-D aims to look at the correlation between the colonized and colonizer represented through key cultural visual identity’s. Posing the question where have we come from, where are we today , where are we heading what is our identity and what does it mean to live as an integrated society.

Each culture has visual elements within their society which identifies them. These are treated with revered importance as people or places of distinction. For the western colonialist this identity is most strongly represented through architecture and the grand, ornate stone buildings which were built to hold the seats of power be them political or religious . In the eyes of the western world these monuments represented strength, a developed and refined culture.

For the indigenous culture, such as Samoa, Identity is far more holistic with communal life including food, song , weaving all of which can be best presented by the distinctive process of tatau. The tatau signified the journey into and through adult hood with The marks identifying family and tribal lineage, an identity of belonging to the place.

I-D will combine both of these identities on a contemporary platform. The process will involve making a scaled three dimensional model of the façade of a significant western piece of architecture. This will then have latex layered over the top. The process will then be for a Tufuga (tattoo master) to tattoo the model façade of the building. This will subsequently be projected, in real time, onto the façade of the original building. The I-D project will, alongside the public spectacle, showcase traditional culture through art, workshops, forums and performances both contemporary and traditional. This approach will attract an audience otherwise disengaged with such showcases.