Tapa, Oceanian Art, Tribal Art, Primitive Art, Oceania, Traditional Fabric, 87 X 34 Cm

Fragment of a tapa dance skirt collected in the Popondetta area in Papua New Guinea. Tapa was the first fabric available in this part of the world. It was used for a wide variety of purposes: clothing, shrouds, blankets, mosquito nets, bags and, in the case of some high-quality pieces, prestige currency. Tapas from the Popondetta region are made from the bark of the paper mulberry tree and are used as dance skirts. The bark is extracted, moistened, beaten and dried. The beating process compacts the fibers and welds them together. Depending on the type of beating, the thickness, texture and suppleness of the fabric vary. The patterns evoke a number of important events or facts in an abstract, symbolic way. Beaten bark and natural pigments. Beautifully framed between 2 glasses. Approx. 87 x 34 cm / 200€ shipping included for Europe.