Ta Moko Plaque

thingiverse

This is my inaugural attempt at creating a 3D project from scratch. Initially, I aimed to design a set of Kirituhi (akin to Ta Moko, traditional Maori tattoos) and apply them to a blank face mask for 3D printing, but I'm still in the process of fine-tuning it. I embarked on this project to forge a stronger connection with my family history. My grandmother departed New Zealand in 1945 after the war when she married my grandfather. Although I'm familiar with many Maori stories and possess the genetics, I wasn't raised Maori, don't speak the language, and can't recall who I'm related to beyond my grandmother's family offhand. Culturally, I identify as American. That being said, while I refer to this piece as the "Ta Moko Plaque" because it's a term even some non-Maori are familiar with, the correct terminology would be Kirituhi (meaning "Drawn Skin") to describe this project. I began by sketching in Inkscape based on a diagram of Ta Moko from one of my grandfather's books. The book didn't record the name of the individual the Moko belonged to, which is truly regrettable. If I knew who it was, I'd delve deeper into the history and include his story with the plaque. Maori-style tattoos are personal, imbued with meaning, so while I admired the pattern recorded, it would be thoughtless to use the design without incorporating the narrative. I've incorporated elements and omitted others to create my sketch, which is not his Moko but a Kirituhi that shares similarities. I took that sketch to Fusion 360 and extruded, cut, and joined until I had a plaque with the design carved in, since Maori-style tattoos are typically carved rather than punctured. I then sent it to my Ender 3 and printed it life-size. I'm uploading it unfinished but freshly printed. Next, I'll sand the top to a smooth finish, fill the grooves with jade green resin, and apply a satin clear coat.