Welcome

SOANE TAUATAINA PANINIA

Tattoo artist from Wallis and Futuna

Discover the authenticity of Polynesian tattooing at Wallis Maori Tattoo, now in Santiago, Chile. With 20 years of experience in Samoan, Tongan, and Wallisian/Futunan traditions, Soane brings ancestral art to life with modern precision.

Open Monday to Friday
9h00 - 19h00

+56

Wallis Maori TaTtoo

Soane Tauataina Paninia

Discover the World of Polynesian Tattooing

The beginning of an adventure.
Welcome to the captivating world of Polynesian tattooing. My story begins on the beaches of Wallis and Futuna, a paradise island in the South Pacific, where at the age of 13, I started drawing Polynesian patterns on my friends’ skin. A budding passion that would soon become my destiny.
A journey of cooking and tattooing.
In 1999, I flew to New Caledonia to attend culinary school, while continuing to tattoo. My travels as a chef took me across the Pacific, immersing me in rich and diverse cultures—from New Zealand to Tahiti, Australia to Fiji.
The first steps of my dream.
In 2001, I arrived in France with one goal in mind: to become a professional tattoo artist. The road was not always easy, but my unwavering passion led me to open my first studio in Paris in 2006, dedicating every moment to Polynesian tattooing and refining my unique technique.
A challenge and an insatiable passion.
Ten years later, I took on a new challenge by opening a second studio in Biarritz, while still working with clients in Paris. My passion burned brighter than ever, pushing me to work tirelessly, alternating weeks between each studio.
Exploring new horizons.
But the story doesn’t stop there. In 2011, I left everything behind to move to Easter Island, homeland of my ex-wife, to seek new inspiration.
Île de Ré, a new chapter.
In 2019, my journey brought me back to New Caledonia, at Teuira Tattoo studio. Today, I am based on Île de Ré, across from La Rochelle in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France. Since January 2021, I have welcomed you at my studio in Saint-Martin-de-Ré.
A new land, the same ancestral passion
In 2025, my path led me to Santiago, Chile, where I am opening a new chapter of my artistic journey. Bringing Polynesian heritage to South America, I continue to create tattoos that connect history, culture, and personal stories.

- Studio Titane – Montmartre, Paris (2003)
- Abraxas – Paris (2005 / 2012 / 2015)
- Abraxas – Réunion Island (2018 / 2019)
- Band Witattoo Studio – Guadeloupe (2005)
- Memphis Tattoo – Paris (2005)
- Tea’Roa Tattoo – New Caledonia (2009)
- Aqueveque Tattoo – Santiago, Chile (2012)
- Amor-Real Tattoo – Santiago, Chile (2013)
- Island Tat – San Diego, California (2013 / 2014 / 2017)
- Jim Katoa Tattoo – Wallis and Futuna (2014)
- Brind’île – Mayotte (2018)
- Teuira Tattoo – New Caledonia (2019 / 2020)
- Black Dahlia Tattoo Parlor – Martinique (2023 / 2024)

SALONS WALLIS MAORI TATTOO

Montlhéry / Paris
(2006 / 2011)

Biarritz
(2010 / 2011)

Île de Pâques
(2011 / 2016)

Bordeaux
(2016 / 2019)

Île de Ré
(2021 /2025)

Santiago / Chili
Today

My story is one of an all-consuming passion for Polynesian tattooing, shaped by travels and constant challenges. Discover this world and immerse yourself in the art and culture of Polynesian Tattoo. I am not a craftsman, but an artist. I do not do quick or “flash” tattoos. For me, each piece is unique and must be created together with the person who will wear it.

See you soon,