The Straight Path

Ko e Hala Hangatonu:

The choice of barkcloth (ngatu), commonly known as tapa, as a medium by White and Fifita reflects its continuing place in Tongan life. Referred to by White as “the DNA of the Pacific”, ngatu is created and used across Oceania to decorate, wrap, protect and carry the human body. As such, it is an integral item of gift and exchange in all important life events, especially in Tonga. Both followers of the Bahá’i faith, White and Ruha have imbued Tongan ngatu, with this spiritual dimension, building on its rich heritage. They address a number of issues in these vast pieces, but the works are unified by extraordinary attention to detail in both the cloth production and painting stages, highlighting traditional methods at every stage of the process.