TAPA cloth is coming to Wellington on a seismic scale.
Te Papa will host New Zealand’s largest exhibition of Pacific tapa cloth in 30 years, including massive masks that rarely make it out of the jungles of Papua New Guinea.
Tapa cloth is made out of beaten bark and originally came out of South-East Asia to spread throughout the Pacific.
Te Papa’s Pacific cultures curator Sean Mallon says some of the most dynamic ceremonies in Papua New Guinea are performed using masks made of tapa cloth.
“They are stunning things, really grand in scale, and you can just imagine them being used in their original setting,” says Mallon.
Te Papa has its own collection of over 500 pieces of tapa cloth, but before now, nothing as visually striking as the masks which are coming.
“Normally they are burned after the ceremony, so it’s remarkable to see them in such good shape,” says Mallon.
Masks arriving from the Queensland Art Gallery stand a few meters high, but some ceremonial masks can be up to seven meters tall.
“The kavat masks are a part of the Baining peoples’ ‘night’ or ‘fire’ dances for male coming-of-age ceremonies. The [dances] combine masks, movement, and loud music to create a powerful atmosphere, added to by fire-dancing and the handling of dangerous pythons,” says Mallon.
Tapa cloth continues to be relevant and evolve.
Mallon says the Baining ceremonies of New Britain often celebrate current events – the success of an economic venture or the purchase of a truck – while new inspirations, such as working designs into the tread-patterns of car tires, ensure the continuing relevance of these ceremonies and designs.
Meanwhile in New Zealand, Mallon says tapa cloth is growing in significance as an art form, and is very much part of our collective culture.
“There is a growing interest as more pacific artists move here and look [at historic pieces] for inspiration.”
Some of the largest tapa cloth ever made will also be on display, like the 22.7m long ngatu laumina created for Queen Elizabeth II in 1953.
“They are rare and very beautiful pieces,” says Mallon.
Paperskin: the art of tapa cloth, Te Papa, free admission, June 19 – September 12