Two Samoan artists have collaborated on a project which required Avondale community members to volunteer their bodies as part of a live tattoo art exhibition.

Photo: RNZI

Graphic artist Vaimaila Urale used computer keyboard symbols to create polynesian inspired artworks, which were then tattooed onto eight participants by tattoo artist Chris Amosa as part of the Whau Arts Festival in Auckland.

Photo: RNZI

When creating the designs Vaimaila Urale restricted herself to using just the v, or greater than (>) and less than symbols, (<) and the forward (/) and backslash (\) symbols on the keyboard.

Photo: RNZI

She says the project reflects her Samoan heritage, but also the fact that she's grown up in a very Western, contemporary and digital society.

"In Samoan, the 'v' symbol is called 'fa'avae tuli', it's based on a bird footprint of the tuli bird, so the footprint that it leaves in the sand. The forward and backslash lines in Samoan the name for it is, 'tusi lili'i', which are basically just translates to small lines.