Tapa Cloth: Polynesian Bark Cloth Art

What Is Tapa?

Tapa is cloth made from paper mulberry tree inner bark, beaten into thin sheets and decorated with painted patterns. It is one of Oceania's oldest textile traditions.

Production Process

The inner bark is stripped, soaked, then beaten on wooden anvils with grooved beaters, gradually widening and thinning the material.

Decoration Techniques

Tongan kupesi rubbing tablets transfer patterns using koka tree bark pigment. Hawaiian kapa features watermark patterns from carved beaters.

Cultural Ceremonies

In Tonga, ngatu is exchanged at weddings, funerals, and coronations. Hawaiian kapa wrapped the bones of chiefs for burial.

Contemporary Practice

Contemporary Pacific artists bring tapa aesthetics into galleries, creating large-scale works bridging traditional craft and fine art.