Tane's taking ta moko to the world

From carving to his work as a ta moko artist - Tane Singh-Lagah is passionate about sharing traditional Maori art work with the world.
The Tuhoe and Ngati Whakaue descendant started carving about eight years ago.
This led him to work in other areas of the art world, including ta moko, and he has travelled around the world learning and sharing his skills and knowledge with others.
He has taken part in exhibitions around New Zealand, Australia, Samoa, Tahiti, Los Angeles and most recently, Germany.
The hard working artist left New Zealand yesterday to attend a ta moko exhibition in Nuremberg, Germany.
Mr Singh-Lagah said his work with traditional Maori carving and ta moko eventually turned him into a historian and he hoped to further develop his skills and knowledge in different traditional Maori art sectors including working with pounamu.
He graduated from Te Puia Maori Arts and Crafts Institute carving school in 2006 and works from his home, which he has turned into a moko studio and personal workshop, making either large carved ornaments, wall hangings, treasure boxes, traditional maori weapons, taonga puoro (traditional maori instruments) and jewellery.
He also works on at least two ta moko every week and has taken part in ta moko wananga held at Orakei and Tahuwhakatiki Marae's.
"The ta moko work was influenced by carving, everything strongly links to each other."
Since graduating he had worked on more than 200 ta moko, on both Maori and tourists.
He said he had always been passionate about art but his pursuit of a carving career came shortly after meeting his biological father.
"Since I was about 5 I spent most of my time drawing. All my school books were covered in everything from wizards to dragons. I would draw anything I could," he said. "When I met my biological father and found out he was a carver, it felt right that I follow that pathway because art had been something I had always enjoyed" he said.
Last month he sold his first stone sculpture called Ihenga at the Stone Sculpture Symposium.
He was also responsible for making former school principal Hawea Vercoe's headstone.
Mr Singh-Lagah said he was "stoked" to have sold his first piece of art and was honoured and privileged to have worked on Mr Vercoe's headstone.
He said it was important to maintain the integrity of ta moko and pass it on to the next generation. "I'm humbled to be able to share, learn and travel while doing what I love."