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Tutana Tetuanui-Peters; maker/artist; September 2023; Marquesas Islands
Overview
This a’eu pipi was produced by sisters Sarah Vaki and Tutana Tetuanui-Peters (Fatu Hiva, Marquesas) as a part of the 'Ahu: Ngā wairua o Hina project.
Honouring the past
This tapa cloth wrap was made from paper mulberry known as ‘ute’ in the Marquesas’ islands. These plants, grown and previously harvested from the garden of Te Fare Iamanaha-Musée de Tahiti et des Îles were frozen awaiting a special occasion.
In 2023, the ute was brought to life and pounded into a long piece of tapa cloth. A natural dye of 'ena (turmeric) gives it a vibrant yellow colour. The cloth was completed through a process known as huhu, which involves rubbing the tapa to soften the fibres. During this phase sandalwood powder was also rubbed into the cloth infusing it with a lovely aromatic perfume.
On the island of Fatu Hiva, tapa cloth prepared in this way is called a'eu pipi. These special cloths are and were worn by women during important events. The tapa bundles gifted to Te Papa and Te Fare Iamanaha-Musée de Tahiti et des Îles were wrapped in a'eu pipi made by Sarah and Tutana, symbolizing a gift of clothing for these precious pieces to be preserved for future generations.
"The one that is dyed with turmeric is an envelope perfumed with plants. We have one for the museum here, and one for the museum in New Zealand, Te Papa. So these pieces that we made, and the knowledge that comes from the past that our tupuna left us, are really a vae-tupuna. That means, a gift of knowledge from our tupuna. Today, we work to support our families, but also, we will transmit this knowledge. So, in the present today, we are going to pass all this knowledge onto our children, so that it is not lost."
Sarah Vaki, 2023 (Exert from an interview translated by Dr Pauline Reynolds.)
Background
In 2021, with the Te Papa Foundation’s support, Te Papa acquired a rare book of tapa cloth samples, one of many assembled by Alexander Shaw in 1787. The samples were cut from larger pieces of tapa collected on Captain Cook’s voyages to the Pacific (1768, 1772, 1776) and represent tapa-making practices from various islands including Hawai‘i, Tahiti and Tonga. While the books contain only fragments of much larger creations, they highlight the variety of textures and artistry attained through the practices, knowledge, and skills of Pacific peoples.
Held in Tahiti in 2023, ‘Ahu: Ngā Wairua o Hina brought tapa makers of Tongan, Sāmoan, Niuean, Fijian, Hawaiian, Tahitian, Pitcairn-Norfolk Island, and Māori descent. Over five days this group worked together to re-establish their living relationships to the cloth held within the Alexander Shaw book. Through a process of wānanga this group of makers created two tapa bundles, incorporating the ideas of past, present, and future. Today, one of the bundles resides with Te Papa and the other with Te Fare Iamanaha-Musée de Tahiti et des Îles.