Anga (tapa cloth)

This large and stunning anga (decorated tapa) is a significant addition to our very small collection of 19th and early 20th-century tapa from the Cook Islands. Made in 2008, it marks a renewed contemporary interest in tapa manufacture on the island of Mangaia.

Revival

Mangaia has a long history of producing tapa cloth and decorated tiputa (ponchos). However, the art form almost completely died out in the early 20th century. This anga is the product of a revival project in the village of Oneroa. The project was undertaken by the Mangaia Historical and Cultural Society sponsored by the University of the South Pacific Cook Islands campus. The anga is more than 5.5 metres long and 2.5metres wide. It is made from the aoa, or aerial roots, of the Banyan tree. The decorations on the anga reference the motifs of late 19^th and early 20^th century barkcloth, carving and tattooing. However, the present generation of artists have added some innovations in composition and colour.

Acquisition

This anga was purchased by Te Papa in 2009.