Tonga-Tapa-Cloth-Collection.blogspot.com – Traditional Tonga Tapa Cloth Collection Exhibition: A blog about a unique wall art collection.
A collection of one of the most popular Tonga Tapa [Cloth] series and also a great exotic home decorating idea. This is a very unusual and exclusive tapa cloth collection made by a talented artist and writer Kamea Hadar, who combined her artistic skills and passion for collecting with her travels around the world in search of new ideas, inspirations, and unique tapa printed cloths. Kamea Hadar’s creativity has found its expression in this unique tapa cloth collection, which is made of many different patterns, shapes and colors.
The oldest surviving piece of cloth in the world is from Tonga and is made from bark. It dates back to approximately 800 AD. The art of tapa weaving has been passed down for generations and today about 2,000 people still practice it in Tonga.
Traditional Tongan Tapa Cloth Collection Exhibition is a blog about unique wall art collection inspired by these ancient cloths.
It is a place where you can find some great ideas how to decorate your home with this amazing product.
Tonga tapa cloth is a unique wall art. It’s been around for centuries, and it’s still popular. The patterns are intricate and beautiful, and the craftsmanship is impressive. And, as it turns out, some of the best examples of this unique wall art can be found in museums around the world.
Tonga tapa cloth comes from Tonga, a small country in Polynesia located near Fiji. The cloth has traditionally been made by hand using natural dyes. The process is both time-consuming and labor intensive.
Nowadays it’s not uncommon to see a mix of materials used to create this unique wall art — often a combination of natural fibers such as barkcloth and cotton — but traditionally only barkcloth was used. Originally all Tonga tapa was made entirely of barkcloth fiber, which comes from the paper mulberry tree. Barkcloth is not really a fabric, but rather a kind of paper made by pounding and rubbing the paper mulberry tree bark against another material such as rock or wood until it becomes soft enough to be shaped into sheets for clothing or other products.*
The labor required to make barkcloth meant that only royalty could afford it until fairly recently. In the years after World War II, however, more Tongan people
The art of Tapa making is one of the oldest traditional crafts in Tonga. The original Tonga Tapa cloth was created over 200 years ago and even then its production was limited to special occasions only for royalty and high chiefs. Most of the designs were geometric, but there were a few figurative ones such as birds and fish.
The art of tapa cloth making has been carefully preserved by the women of Tonga. Today, tapa weaving is taught in schools, both on the main island and in Vava’u, as part of their cultural heritage subject.
Tapa cloths are made from bark fibers of the paper mulberry tree that has been beaten into a pulp and then dried. Today, imported raw materials are sometimes used to supplement local resources, especially when large sheets are needed for church banners, weddings or funerals. Most pieces are made on backstrap looms with patterns cut out using scissors or knives. Designs are drawn onto the cloth with pencil then stitched using cotton thread. Colored dyes are used to create different patterns and shades.
Tonga is the home of unique wall art known as tapa cloth. A special handmade paper made by pounding the bark of the mulberry tree and combining it with coconut milk and lime. The process takes three to four months to complete and is a sacred tradition that has been passed down from generation to generation.
The paper was originally used for clothing, but today it is used for making decorative wall hangings, table runners, placemats, and more. The cloth has a water-based adhesive applied to one side and is then applied with an adhesive or staple gun to a backing. This creates a longer lasting and more durable product.
Tongan Tapa cloth is an art form that was once known throughout the Pacific. Today it is a dying art, with only a few skilled weavers left.
This blog is dedicated to the artists and their tapa cloth designs. The photos in this blog have been taken of the tapa displays at the Tongan Museum in Nuku’alofa Tonga.
Tapa Cloth is a master work of art. Tapa Cloth is a traditional wall art that has been an important part of the Tongan art culture since the 16th century. Tongans are well known for their creative designs and spectacular use of colors in their hand made cloths. The word “Tapa” comes from the Tahitian language, meaning “to beat”.
Tapa Cloth is made out of bark from mulberry or breadfruit trees, and dyed with natural vegetable dyes. The process of making tapa cloth is called tivaevae, which means to twist fibers into cord. Tapa cloth can be used as clothing and even worn as ceremonial dress by important people like chiefs and warriors. It can also be used for bedding, to cover houses, for religious ceremonies, in funerals, as gift wrapping and even for currency!
