A black-and-white photo of a person mid-air in a Superman-style body suspension pose, supported by multiple hooks in their back and legs, smiling joyfully toward the camera. They are suspended horizontally in a large indoor space with high ceilings and visible rigging. A group of onlookers—some seated, some standing—watch with expressions of admiration, amusement, and support. The atmosphere is lively and communal, capturing a moment of shared experience and transformation.

Companionship.

A friend of mine sent me a link to this beautiful (and informal) interview between Clayton Cubitt and Vic Taurewa Biddle discussing his homosexuality, Tā moko, Maori heritage, the Twelfth Realm and everything inbetween.

Apparently Veoh (the provider of the video above) is blocked in quite a few countries so if you can’t view it above, here is the YouTube video.

Comments

68 responses to “Companionship.”

  1. RooRaaah Crumbs Avatar

    I’m a sucker for an honest laugh!

  2. RooRaaah Crumbs Avatar

    I’m a sucker for an honest laugh!

  3. Dimruthien Avatar

    Yay for Maori 🙂 My niece’s father recently went back to NZ for his Tā moko.

  4. Dimruthien Avatar

    Yay for Maori 🙂 My niece’s father recently went back to NZ for his Tā moko.

  5. TrinityVA Avatar
    TrinityVA

    That. Is. Awesome.

    And his face is *so beautiful*. Wow.

  6. TrinityVA Avatar
    TrinityVA

    That. Is. Awesome.

    And his face is *so beautiful*. Wow.

  7. Ben Avatar
    Ben

    Finally some more homo-content. The gay BME community is a little under-represented / i’m only whining because I want to see more aesthetically pleasing men, don’t make me get all Guerilla Girls on your asses!

  8. Ben Avatar
    Ben

    Finally some more homo-content. The gay BME community is a little under-represented / i’m only whining because I want to see more aesthetically pleasing men, don’t make me get all Guerilla Girls on your asses!

  9. Dragana Avatar
    Dragana

    I love his laugh too! Very cool interview.

  10. Dragana Avatar
    Dragana

    I love his laugh too! Very cool interview.

  11. kciR Avatar

    great interview. i’m glad that someone was able to make contact with his roots and come to terms with his self after being given a negative implication by others.

  12. kciR Avatar

    great interview. i’m glad that someone was able to make contact with his roots and come to terms with his self after being given a negative implication by others.

  13. DTM Avatar
    DTM

    where is the rest of the interview…this is the best thing I have seen here so far

  14. DTM Avatar
    DTM

    where is the rest of the interview…this is the best thing I have seen here so far

  15. DTM Avatar
    DTM

    I must have missed part of it on here but the ending on youtube deff made me smile…. this is one of my favs

  16. DTM Avatar
    DTM

    I must have missed part of it on here but the ending on youtube deff made me smile…. this is one of my favs

  17. FMC Avatar
    FMC

    Ohh man, im an Aussie living in the US, and Aussies are close with the kiwis. I love the fact that maori tribes and culture still exist in full force today in NZ – We dont see that in Aus (Aborigines) we dont see that here (Native Americans) so it is really a credit to the Maori natives for keeping the brits at bay and saying Fuck You – we will continue…

  18. FMC Avatar
    FMC

    Ohh man, im an Aussie living in the US, and Aussies are close with the kiwis. I love the fact that maori tribes and culture still exist in full force today in NZ – We dont see that in Aus (Aborigines) we dont see that here (Native Americans) so it is really a credit to the Maori natives for keeping the brits at bay and saying Fuck You – we will continue…

  19. TrickyDick Avatar

    His happiness and self acceptance is contagious.

    When you look at him- his Ta Moko isn’t something separate from him- it’s part of him.

    We should all strive to represent ourselves the same way.

  20. TrickyDick Avatar

    His happiness and self acceptance is contagious.

    When you look at him- his Ta Moko isn’t something separate from him- it’s part of him.

    We should all strive to represent ourselves the same way.

  21. Trix4theRabbits Avatar
    Trix4theRabbits

    kia ora!!

  22. Trix4theRabbits Avatar
    Trix4theRabbits

    kia ora!!

  23. Will Avatar
    Will

    The charm and honesty of the man came shining through. Great to see a guy at peace with himself, his world and his heritage. Nice laugh. Nice guy. Beautiful tattoos.

  24. Will Avatar
    Will

    The charm and honesty of the man came shining through. Great to see a guy at peace with himself, his world and his heritage. Nice laugh. Nice guy. Beautiful tattoos.

  25. Stygian Avatar

    Great interview, and quite informative I found. Good on him, and as said above – the tattoos are great.

  26. Stygian Avatar

    Great interview, and quite informative I found. Good on him, and as said above – the tattoos are great.

  27. mpatshi Avatar

    that was deffenitly interesting, I learned a lot from a short film:)
    and he’s…beautifull:d
    After 2 seconds in the vid you still see the moko, but it’s so much part of his face that in the end the thing that hit me the most was the smile:d
    perfect tattoo I would say:d

  28. mpatshi Avatar

    that was deffenitly interesting, I learned a lot from a short film:)
    and he’s…beautifull:d
    After 2 seconds in the vid you still see the moko, but it’s so much part of his face that in the end the thing that hit me the most was the smile:d
    perfect tattoo I would say:d

  29. Stewart Avatar

    That was a great post. Thanks Roo (and of course thanks to Clayton & Vic).

  30. Stewart Avatar

    That was a great post. Thanks Roo (and of course thanks to Clayton & Vic).

  31. Toaster Avatar
    Toaster

    Tumeke cuz.

  32. Toaster Avatar
    Toaster

    Tumeke cuz.

  33. RooRaaah Crumbs Avatar

    I love his laugh too (I was going to mention it in the post, but figured you’d all feel the same, haha), I also loved how he said “transvestites”, he seems like such a nice chap!

  34. RooRaaah Crumbs Avatar

    I love his laugh too (I was going to mention it in the post, but figured you’d all feel the same, haha), I also loved how he said “transvestites”, he seems like such a nice chap!

  35. Kosh Avatar

    Wonderful piece, thanks for sharing it. As noted earlier, his laugh is honest and absolutely infectious. I really liked learning about his moko as well, and the eagle’s relationship to the maori afterworld. Very cool.

  36. Kosh Avatar

    Wonderful piece, thanks for sharing it. As noted earlier, his laugh is honest and absolutely infectious. I really liked learning about his moko as well, and the eagle’s relationship to the maori afterworld. Very cool.

  37. Jon P Avatar

    Vic’s face adorns the cover of ‘Mau Moko’, which is the most comprehensive publication on the subject of Taa Moko published thus far. I recommend that anyone interested in the subject hunts down a copy of ‘Mau Moko’. It has a wonderful discussion with several Ta Moko artists on the subject of Ta Moko vs. Kirituhi (that is, the traditional tattooing of Maori vs. the tattooing of Paakehaa and Tauiwi with Maori motifs).

    Takataapui is also a show on Whakaata Maori (Maori TV, the first and only Maori TV channel in Aotearoa/NZ) of which Vic co-hosts. Much like the Fa’afafine, who are a normal part of Samoan culture, takataapui were not traditionally reviled until the Christian missionaries arrived in Aotearoa with their “salvation” and their God.

    I love seeing Maori talking about Ta Moko. It’s our place to speak about our traditions, no one else’s!

    Kia ora koutou ki te iwi whanui o BME!

  38. Jon P Avatar

    Vic’s face adorns the cover of ‘Mau Moko’, which is the most comprehensive publication on the subject of Taa Moko published thus far. I recommend that anyone interested in the subject hunts down a copy of ‘Mau Moko’. It has a wonderful discussion with several Ta Moko artists on the subject of Ta Moko vs. Kirituhi (that is, the traditional tattooing of Maori vs. the tattooing of Paakehaa and Tauiwi with Maori motifs).

    Takataapui is also a show on Whakaata Maori (Maori TV, the first and only Maori TV channel in Aotearoa/NZ) of which Vic co-hosts. Much like the Fa’afafine, who are a normal part of Samoan culture, takataapui were not traditionally reviled until the Christian missionaries arrived in Aotearoa with their “salvation” and their God.

    I love seeing Maori talking about Ta Moko. It’s our place to speak about our traditions, no one else’s!

    Kia ora koutou ki te iwi whanui o BME!

  39. Chaq Avatar
    Chaq

    Fucking awesome!!
    What a great man, and a really cool little interview. It’s just so great to see your brothers represented, you know?

  40. Chaq Avatar
    Chaq

    Fucking awesome!!
    What a great man, and a really cool little interview. It’s just so great to see your brothers represented, you know?

  41. rozi Avatar
    rozi

    Fascinating! He seems awesome, is it just me who wants to shake his hand or give him a big hug? Haha

  42. rozi Avatar
    rozi

    Fascinating! He seems awesome, is it just me who wants to shake his hand or give him a big hug? Haha

  43. SeaHorse Avatar
    SeaHorse

    I discoverd Maori culture when I travelld around New-Zealand. And I must say that knowing some of them… they are absolutly charming people, And I LOVE their accent. Here is a perfect exemple… always smiling, they love their culture and it goes like this from father to childs. Its a pitty that I cant say that I like being an American, I’d love to have some strong roots like they have. Maybe thats what make them so loveable. Gorgeous Tattoo! Kia Ora

  44. SeaHorse Avatar
    SeaHorse

    I discoverd Maori culture when I travelld around New-Zealand. And I must say that knowing some of them… they are absolutly charming people, And I LOVE their accent. Here is a perfect exemple… always smiling, they love their culture and it goes like this from father to childs. Its a pitty that I cant say that I like being an American, I’d love to have some strong roots like they have. Maybe thats what make them so loveable. Gorgeous Tattoo! Kia Ora

  45. Jon P Avatar

    I love the way people have this romanticism about Maori. Always smiling? Nah bro, come to Palmerston North and take a stroll around Awapuni and Highbury. Aside from the lil gangstas and gang prospects, the unemployed and sometimes homeless who beg for spare change in the main street aren’t ever smiling. And if you ever smile at them, best prepare for a beat down.

    Not all Maori love their culture either. Fuck all of us can speak our language and hardly any of us know what is tika/right when it comes to tikanga/customs. We’re heavily urbanized, devoid of our marae.

    Sure, some of us are smiley happy people, but not all Maori are happy and charming. It’s the same as any grouping of people. It never ceases to amaze me how people will romanticize things, especially tourists who only ever see (for a day or so) the plastic culture sold to them in places like Whakarewarewa.

  46. Jon P Avatar

    I love the way people have this romanticism about Maori. Always smiling? Nah bro, come to Palmerston North and take a stroll around Awapuni and Highbury. Aside from the lil gangstas and gang prospects, the unemployed and sometimes homeless who beg for spare change in the main street aren’t ever smiling. And if you ever smile at them, best prepare for a beat down.

    Not all Maori love their culture either. Fuck all of us can speak our language and hardly any of us know what is tika/right when it comes to tikanga/customs. We’re heavily urbanized, devoid of our marae.

    Sure, some of us are smiley happy people, but not all Maori are happy and charming. It’s the same as any grouping of people. It never ceases to amaze me how people will romanticize things, especially tourists who only ever see (for a day or so) the plastic culture sold to them in places like Whakarewarewa.

  47. Allison Avatar

    more things like this please!!!!!

  48. Allison Avatar

    more things like this please!!!!!

  49. Kalinkina Avatar

    Very cool. 🙂

  50. Kalinkina Avatar

    Very cool. 🙂

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