Hello Kitty Hell

Comment from Siouxie
Time: June 27, 2007, 7:54 pm

Even that scares me.

Comment from Atalanta
Time: June 27, 2007, 8:03 pm

Hello Kitty should not have nipples. Metal or otherwise.

Comment from karma
Time: June 27, 2007, 8:25 pm

omfg, thats like racist, isnt hello kitty ment to be asian? and only asian? lol has ur wife bought it yet?

Comment from Jordan
Time: June 28, 2007, 9:57 am

On a side note, you don’t have to worry about the Amazon because the Maori are a Polynesian tribe found mostly in New Zealand.

Comment from liz
Time: June 28, 2007, 11:43 am

well…..i think i’d rather have this kind of hellokitty in my apt if i had to have one…. because, people wouldn’t notice it right away that it’s a hellokitty.

….hopefully.

and if your wife get one, you should put it in front of a brown wall with black patterns.

Comment from debbie
Time: June 28, 2007, 3:31 pm

I don’t think that Hello Kitty Hell man was saying that the Maori were from the Amazon. He’s saying Sanrio is seeking out even less known minority groups to convert.

I must admit out of all the Hello Kitty things I have seen on this blog so far, this is my favorite.

Comment from saphiestar
Time: June 28, 2007, 6:03 pm

Dude, that is creepy. If anyone in my family got that, I would throw it in front of a car because if I ever was walking around at night and I saw it I’d be creeped out.

So…have you eaten popcorn from one of these things?

http://isobe.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/2007/05/23/070523.jpg

Comment from Kaylee
Time: June 28, 2007, 6:32 pm

I WANT IT!

Comment from Lea
Time: June 28, 2007, 7:08 pm

wow, she *does* have metal nips…pretty freaky

Comment from Allyson
Time: June 28, 2007, 11:30 pm

STUNNING

Comment from M
Time: June 29, 2007, 8:40 am

I think this is the first Hello Kitty thing I’ve ever seen that has a mouth! Also, just noticed this, it looks like Miss Kitty is wearing the *male Maori tattoo design… hmmm Sanrio really messed this one up - very culturally insensitive.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T%C4%81_moko

Comment from dtjunkie
Time: June 29, 2007, 2:18 pm

I love it! I would love to be in charge of Sanrio’s design dept. I have no doubt HK will reach global domination.

Comment from Bella
Time: July 3, 2007, 2:43 am

This is so totally offensive to the Maori people. There will be a law suit for sure - heaps of other international companies that have tried to use the Maori culture in shocking gimmicks like this have been taken to the cleaners.

Comment from Wallina Demidoff
Time: July 3, 2007, 8:53 am

Wow, just wow. That’s one hell of a specimen. I’m not easily impressed, but that is exceptionally Hello Kitty and Hell mashed up together. It’s cute gone so far beyond awry that we’ve catapulted into an alternate universe, one from which we’ll never find or make a wormhole to escape.

thank you for curing me of every last vestige (left over from the early to mid 80s) of affinity for Hello Kitty.

Comment from Suzycat
Time: July 3, 2007, 1:14 pm

As a NZer I know this is bad and wrong, especially the greenstone nipples(and Kitty has a man’s moko), but… I want one.

Comment from Jimi
Time: July 3, 2007, 2:46 pm

Maori arn’t a tribe they’re a people and only from Aotearoa (New Zeland), and this thing isn’t that bad if you know how much poor quality kitsch floods this country ripping off Maori culture.
But green nipples?

Comment from moi
Time: July 3, 2007, 3:27 pm

she has lips . . . .

Comment from Joseph
Time: July 3, 2007, 3:49 pm

Hi guys. I just want to clear something up, once and for all.
I’m the guy that people are starting to ‘hate-on’ over the internet.
I have been painting these ‘Hello Kitties’ for some time now.
I don’t work for Sanrio and the Kia Ora Kitty is not made by them.
They are not meant to be racist or offensive to any culture or company.
She is purely one of my illustrations that I paint for fun.
I have also painted a complete range of ‘Star Wars Kittys’ and I’m pretty sure
I’d get sued by someone for those. They’re not done for any profit. Just Fun.
Please don’t hate me.

Comment from s
Time: July 3, 2007, 4:51 pm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/1627209.stm

Comment from Lita
Time: July 3, 2007, 6:11 pm

I think they are greenstone nipples. While not strictly traditional Maoritanga (of the Maori culture), they will surely take off like Janet Jackson’s nipple ring.

Comment from Cat
Time: July 3, 2007, 6:19 pm

Hey, how can I get a high-res image of this? I need a closer look at that pendant.

Comment from Michael
Time: July 3, 2007, 9:47 pm

Joseph -
Are you an inappropriate appropriator casually drawing on anything that takes your fancy? Or are you an edgy artist challenging cultural sensitivities in a globalised context?
Maybe you are, as you say, an innocent illustrator dabbling with dolls. So I presume to critique your work on that level.
As others have already noted, you have applied a male moko to a female figure - or put a hair-bow on a male head.
Also, you seem to have missed a really interesting of aspect of moko which is that the foreground pattern should be in the clear skin - the ink is the background that reveals the person’s whakapapa (heritage) and place in the community.
Or is this disrespect for authenticity just another layer of post-modern ironic wit?
I do recognise that the work has been accomplished with commendable precision.
All the best.

Comment from Joseph
Time: July 4, 2007, 3:45 am

Hi Michael.
Thank you for your great letter.
Yes indeed, Kitty is a mish-mash of male and female ‘forces’.
The use of male moko / tattoo is a comment on how something so innocuous can become a cultural icon (in this case, Hello Kitty) and, through their instant recognisabilty, become more powerful than the simple conventions of sexuality or identity.
My other ‘Kittys’ forgo the usual “she’s a girl” rules and show how, no matter what “dressing” you put on someone, they are still the same under it all.
Kitty may be wearing a warrior’s moko but her ‘mana’ comes from her honest ‘kitty-ness’. It doesn’t change, no matter how ’staunch’ you paint her.

Comment from Me
Time: July 4, 2007, 5:13 am

So Joesph, how do you feel about your Hello Kitty doll making it into today’s Sideswipe section of the New Zealand Herald?

Comment from sime
Time: July 4, 2007, 6:02 pm

joseph - is this a one and only or can you get these somewhere? If so where????????
thanks

Comment from joanh
Time: July 7, 2007, 4:58 am

this is pretty cool

Comment from Jeri
Time: September 19, 2007, 7:32 pm

Haha I’m laughing sooo much! I’m from New Zealand but not a Maori, I am European. My Maori friends would be sooooooooooo offended if they saw this.

Comment from Jeri
Time: September 19, 2007, 7:34 pm

Oh and Cat, I’m pretty sure it’s just a tiki pendant, plastic by the looks…

Comment from Jeri
Time: September 19, 2007, 7:40 pm

Oh and while I’m at it Joseph you should be careful. Recently Maori have been getting really pissed about Jean Paul Gaultier using Moko on his models, they take their culture very seriously and don’t take kindly to people they think are trying to cash in on it. I have read your comment and know you do this purely for fun but they may not see it that way..

Comment from Sean
Time: February 1, 2008, 3:24 pm

Please remove this picture of this shit doll and learn a little about my peoples culture before you go screwing around with it.
It is offensive in so many ways and I don’t really want to show it to my whanau or kaumatua, Putting a Ta Moko of the male on a female doll WTF !!! I don’t know what you think art is but thats not it bro so just make good and remove it a.

Comment from Alan
Time: March 5, 2008, 2:53 am

I’m also Maori but I’m not offended. I personally think it’s bizarre, but I’m also chuffed that so many people like it. But please, all you people in the rest of the world, don’t get the idea it’s authentically Maori because Sean is absolutely right - it isn’t. As regards Maori in general being offended by this kind of imitation, it depends on the context. Usually we take it in good spirit, but think about how devout Christians would feel if some sizable group of non-believers were to parody their sacred icons, and you’ll have some idea of when it can get offensive. Lighten up Sean - the artist’s intentions were good and those are really appreciative postings about what neat designs Maori have!

Comment from Marie
Time: March 5, 2008, 4:59 pm

Well Joseph, it has a point of difference..lol You said you didn’t want people hating on you, well you stuffed up there when you used Maori designs in a controversial way. A suggestion, next time do some research! I’m Maori and an artist but Im not offended with it, just annoyed at your lack of research into the culture and the designs as it has come off culturally inappropriate, insensitive and ignorant. It has a controversial spin and people will either love it or hate it! I think most Maori will hate it but thats my own opinion!!

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Time: March 6, 2008, 11:40 pm

[…] conversation from Kitty Hell: […]

Comment from Lee
Time: March 23, 2008, 3:50 am

I am a Maori who is somewhat offended by this “hello Kitty” saga because it has a ta moko that my ancestors had gained due to their great esteem within their community, and also it states ones genealogy line. To put this on a brand is astounding to me as this gives anyone else the opportunity to use this in any shape or form, let it be advertising or for sheer artistic flare. I hope that “Joseph” you really research your next venture as this shows you are a great artist and you are also good at it, however as long as this “hello kitty” is illustrated and still online the comments are not going to cease.

Comment from Maori
Time: April 17, 2008, 1:52 pm

Kiaora…. (Hello in Maori)

First of all I don’t mean to direct any blame or hatred to the artist at all, I only wish to clear a few things up.

Maori are a people from the islands of Aotearoa (New Zealand). It used to be our land, unfortunately it was colonised by 18th century English.

We have lost alot by ways of land, our language which during the 20th century was made illegal and our culture.

This is just one reason why we protect our culture so much.

1: Ta Moko or the Facial Tattoo is sacred and can only be obtained through our ancestors and our mana (pride).

2: The Tattoo this Kitty is wearing is a Male Tattoo.

3: The Nipples are Pounamu or Greenstone (If not the colour gives the wrong representation) which is Sacred to Many of our tribes and more importantly to Maori as a whole.

Some cultures may liked to be used as a parody but not ours.. Our people have suffered enough already and are continuosly fighting to lose the tag of just being a “TOURIST ATTRACTION”.

I ask for this site to please remove this picture immediately.

I know alot of non-maori would not understand. We as a people are extremely happy that there is an interest in our image and our culture. But we must defend and protect that image.

Please REMOVE….

Thank you for your consideration.

Comment from Alan
Time: April 18, 2008, 1:31 am

E hoa ma, please! Smile and educate!

I’ve been watching aspects of our Maori heritage misunderstood by the ignorant but well-meaning for over 60 years. Believe me, Kiwis in general are a lot less ignorant and much more genuinely interested in our culture than they used to be. If you listen to audio from 50 years ago on National Radio’s Sunday night “Sounds Historical” you will cringe at the appallingly bad pronunciation of Maori words that was almost universal back then, not to mention the superficiality of what was said about us. Look at the accommodation ads in a 1950’s issue of the NZ Herald and notice how many bluntly said “No Maoris”! Younger Maori only see the remaining injustices and don’t realize how much things have improved in just one lifetime. You can’t legislate for better understanding - it comes from direct experience, and that only comes from one culture reaching out to the other. Maori have been doing exactly that for a long time. It’s a slow process, but it seems to be working.

Try telling the All Blacks to stop doing “our” haka and you will only attract stinging criticism. Offer them a new haka and while there will be a few critics, most people will welcome that as one culture sharing its treasures with another.

I value our culture too, but let’s be careful our grumbles aren’t alienating good people with a genuine interest in things Maori. As long as people are saying “Wow, that’s great!” I don’t mind too much that Hello Kitty Maori got a few things wrong, but please Joseph get your next bit of Maori artistry checked by someone who knows what’s authentic and what isn’t!

Comment from vee
Time: May 1, 2008, 3:26 pm

i’m pretty sure those aren’t nipples, only bottons. duh. sickos.