Tapa, from tree bark to cloth. An ancien art of Oceanie

The cloths were dyed, scented, and covered with motifs related to symbols of clan, ethnicity, islands … to the point of becoming true works of art.

Associated with sacred rites, ceremonial exchanges and rituals marking the milestones of life from birth to death, and deeply integrated into the social relationships of communities, they constituted an external sign of the wealth or power of the owner and served in customary exchanges, among many other uses.

Today, the generic Polynesian term tapa is used to refer to barkcloth. Passionate “knowledge brokers” perpetuate the tradition and demonstrate that tapa is not fixed in the past, but is a living form that renews itself. For that very reason, this book culminates in the universe of artists, creators and a stylist who have appropriated the material to create original pieces of art.