Set up in 2010, the Falehanga ‘i Teleiloa group practises and develops Tongan women’s fine arts. The group is an effective network, linking older members with younger, and those based in New Zealand with others in Tonga.
The work shown here – a ngatu tā'uli (black barkcloth) – was made with the help of women in Tatakamotonga, Tonga, who provided the materials: red koka plant pigment and strips of plain barkcloth. Members of Falehunga ‘i Teleiloa joined the barkcloth to make the 22-metre length, coated it with pigment, applied motifs and painted the ngatu black.
Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi
Private collection
Photograph by Kolokesa Māhina-Tuai
This item has been provided for private study purposes (such as school projects, family and local history research) and any published reproduction (print or electronic) may infringe copyright law. It is the responsibility of the user of any material to obtain clearance from the copyright holder.
Tāpiritia te tākupu hou