Gary Harding's body is a living testimony to his indigenous New Zealand heritage.
Ta moko, a cultural-tattoo artwork, adorns Harding's face and body, forming a visualisation of his Maori "whakapapa" or genealogy, his role in the community and his life's journey.
"I enjoy when someone asks questions, then I have the opportunity to share and educate them, rather than just staring and making assumptions," he told Al Jazeera.
For generations ta moko was outlawed and later adopted by Maori gangs, which led to widespread discrimination and stigma that made finding work and social acceptance difficult.