A tapa cloth depicting traditional Tongan figures of divinity within a contemporary Christian context has won this year’s Wallace Arts Trust Paramount Award. The New Zealand Herald desceribes Visesio Poasi Siasau’s work as tapa cloth measures 4.4m by 18m. “But these words hardly capture the ambition and strangeness of the artist’s work,” says Scott Hamilton. Read more
Marlborough Rural Women yesterday accepted a gift of a large tapa cloth made by women in Tonga.
Rural Women Marlborough provincial branch international officer Melva Robb said each year the group focused on a different country. Last year the theme was Tonga and Marlborough woman Theresa Veikoso spoke to the group about her Tongan homeland’s culture.
Miss Robb said that after Mrs Veikoso spoke to them the Marlborough women were inspired to help the Tongan community in some way. Mrs Veikoso suggested money they raised could go to a group making traditional tapa cloth, led by her aunt.
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