Ta Moko Plaque by awatkins1984

Last crawled date: 4 years ago

This is my first from scratch 3D project. My original intent was to design a set of Kirituhi (similar to Ta Moko, Maori traditional tattoos) and apply them to a blank face mask for 3D printing, but I'm not quite there yet.
I started this project to feel more connected to my family history. My grandmother left New Zealand in 1945 after the war when she married my grandfather. While I know many of the Maori stories and have the genetics I wasn't raised Maori, don't speak the language and can't tell you off hand who I am related to beyond my grandmother's family. I'm an American culturally.
That said, while I call this piece the "Ta Moko Plaque" because it's a word even some non Maori know, the correct term would be Kirituhi (meaning "Drawn Skin") to describe this project.
I started with a sketch in Inkscape based on a diagram of Ta Moko from one of my grandfather's books. The book did not record the name of the man the Moko belonged to which is a real shame. If I knew who it was, I'd dig up more information and include his story with the plaque. Ta Moko are personal, they have meaning, so while I liked the pattern recorded, it would be disrespectful I think to use the design without using the story. I've added elements and removed elements to get my sketch. This is not his Moko, it is a Kirituhi that is similar.
I took that sketch to Fusion 360 and extruded, cut, and joined until I had a plaque with the design carved in, because Maori style tattoos are carved instead of poked in. I then sent it to my Ender 3 and printed it life size.
I'm uploading it unfinished but fresh off the printer. I'll be sanding the top smooth, filling the grooves with a jade green resin, then giving it a nice satin clear coat.