A change maker’s story
By GEORGIANNA MARGARET
PAOA FM News
“WHEN some people see me, they will think I’m a Criminal. No I’m a Kastom man.”
These are the words from a tattooist preserving his culture on his skin.
His arms, legs, chest and parts of his back are covered in the traditional designs of his homeland of Rennell and Bellona Province.
Originally from Bellona, Bolland Green Kaitu’u is a ‘Mataisau’, a term he is humbled to be known as and explained that the word means ‘traditional tattooist’.
While he is now known as the name behind traditional tattooing in his homeland and reaching out throughout the region with his vast networks, Bolland’s beginning to be identify as a Mataisau was arduous journey.
“I love to draw and would love to be a Mataisau but it was difficult because of the church influence in the islands,” he said.
With a tattooed tear drop on his left eye and a star under his chin, this Mataisau explains how he was an outcast and had his fair share of thug life that cornered his early years as a youth.
“I was an outlaw back in the day, not knowing what future would be like for me,” he recalled.
With a tattooed tear drop on his left eye and a star under his chin, this Mataisau explains how he was an outcast and had his fair share of thug life that cornered his early years as a youth.
Bolland further explains how he came to love, something that became his passion cause chaos in his family household.
Growing up with a strict father who was also a church leader in Bellona, Bolland recalled how angry his parents were when he started doing the traditional tattooing.
“As time goes on, they saw that this is what I want to do and it is who I’am so slowly they accepted it.”
He also admits that his bold step to do tattooing despite his religious upbringing also made him practice his skills of traditional designs on foreigners specifically a group of military personnel back in 2004.
“I was invited by a few RAMSI Army personnel from Australia and New Zealand, so I went to their camp at GBR and tattooed them and many approached me later to make bigger designs. It was a good experience,” he said.
Like many other traditional patterns the Polynesian tattooing of Renbell Province harbored designs that were believed to be given by the island god to their ancestors and warriors.
Women and men had their bodies covered in patterns that gave them a higher status of recognition in their community and also seen as protection against bad spirits or intentions of enemies.
He also explained that the tattoos are added over the years and can also display the age of the person wearing it.
He emphasized on his effort to focus on tribal tattoos alone due to the fact that Solomon Islands has many designs that showcased a person’s origin and identity.
“We have a lot of tribal designs in our other islands not only in Rennell and Bellona Province; I want to promote all those traditional arts in my designs too,” he said confidently.
“I started this work because I saw the traditional designs are fading away, that is why I’m reviving this ink so we can use our own designs,” he said as he elaborates on his trademarked compilation artistry known as ‘Solomon Mix’.
“With Solomon Mix, I simply created a tattoo that has the tribal designs of the province making up Solomon Islands.
“It all depends on what the client wants.”
While tattooing is a painstaking work that evolves with patience and a lot of concentration, shooting tribal tattoos is a commitment that he carries heavily as a responsibility than as a way to earn money.
“It is a part of our tradition, all of my ancestors wore it with pride on their skin so it important to me.”
Bolland’s grandmother is also a Mataisau and he is happy to carry on the work without second thought of what it meant to his converted Adventist society.
When asked about his believes as a Christian and a tattooist he confidently said that he believed ‘Tatoos’ are on the surface, what’s in a person’s heart makes a true Christian.
“Tatoos stay with you forever, so it’s important that you know what you want and make sure it has a meaning for you.”
Having doing this work for years now, Bolland shared what kept him going during the long hours of concentration while working on a client.
His extensive network also led him to travel to the provinces and abroad for tattooing and has been offered spaces to run his studio abroad as well, a decision he is procrastinating on.
This guy is surely not only a skillful Tattooist but also a rapper; he certainly has a lot up his sleeve when it comes to art.
“I listen to music, it helps me and it also helps the client to forget the pain,” he laughed.
Among the playlist her share with Paoa FM on the Change Maker show are two hits from his favorite artist rapper Tupac and also Bone Thugs and Harmony, East 17 and concluding the interview with his own original song featuring a fellow Renbell artist and producer Deskem entitled ‘Welcome’.
Bolland Green Kaitu’u says he hopes youths can also grow to be inspired by their tradition and hope local tattooists also keep their tribal designs alive.
Paoa FM broadcasts the Change Makers series on Mondays at 9am, 3pm and 8pm
The Changmakers program is a joint project between Paoa FM and Pacific Media Assistance Scheme (PACMAS), launched to celebrate local leaders and build media skills.
