Gatu

Gatu. Bark cloth. Gatu were most commonly made by men in Uvea mo Futuna. It is made from the bark of the paper mulberry tree which has been stripped, beaten and patched together to create a plain textile. This is then dyed and rubbed with a natural pigment made from togo (mangrove) or kele'uli (clay), and then painted with a black dye made from tuitui (candlenut) soot. This gatu is rectangular in shape and is stiff and thick. It has a thick border lining the edge and it is made up of intricate painted geometric designs. The inside of this border features repeated motif called poi and it is a design that represents the church where Peter Chanel was buried in Uvea. The surface is polished and shiny.