Tristan Marler
Ko Tarakeha te maunga
Ko Moetangi te awa
Ko Tinana te waka
Ko Tūmoana te tangata
Ko Mātihetihe te marae
Ko Te Tao Mauī te hapū
Ko Te Rarawa te iwi
Ko Tristan Marler tōku ingoa
Artist Statement
Tristan Marler (Manawa Tapu),Te Rarawa/Te Aupōuri hails from Te Tai Tokerau. Tristan is multi-disciplinary artist with a career spanning 15 years. His studio is based in Tītīrangi. Tristan trained under master carvers Clive Fugill and James Rickard at the New Zealand Māori Arts & Crafts Institute in Rotorua, studying the ancient craft of Whakairo Rākau. He then spent 7 years under the mentorship of his close friend Thomas McMillan aka Tomtom Tattoo, where he completed his tattoo apprenticeship. Tristan specialises in Tā Moko, whakairo, toi Māori and graphic design. More recently, Tristan has expanded his practice through mahi uku, under the guidance of his mother, Fleur Palmer. With this mahi, he blends his knowledge of whakairo to create vessels and taonga puoro imbued with whakapapa. Tristan is passionate about learning, interpreting and sharing pūrākau, history, stories and experiences of the people he spends time with, honouring the path walked by his tūpuna and protecting, preserving and perpetuating ngā toi Māori.
