Overview
The two island groups known as Uvéa (Wallis) and Futuna form one French Overseas Territory.
On Futuna, tapa is made in forms ranging from siapo (large sheets) to salatasi or salalua (waist garments), lafi (sashes), and tepi (skirts). Siapo are made from strips of tapa joined together, then decorations are applied with a kupesi (pattern board). Salatasi are made from felted tapa – tapa made of layered sheets – and decorated with fine black-on-white designs in a grid-work pattern.
On Uvéa, tapa is known as ngatu. A kupesi board is also used in the decoration, in a style similar to both Samoa and Tonga.
This collection narrative is based on the Tapa: Pacific Style exhibition on display at Te Papa, level 4 (September 2009 - September 2010).
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