By the late nineteenth century in Tahiti and the Cook Islands, tivaevae, a form of quilting, had replaced bark cloth production as a ceremonial art form. These brightly coloured textiles are highly valued for the love and patience of the creators in their making, and often given on special occasions such as a wedding, or used to cover the body of a loved one who has died. Tivaevae are usually made by either one woman or created in groups of women called vainetini, who use the time together to socialise, catch up on news and sing. Tungane Broadbent and Vereara Maeva-Taripo are important tivaevae artists from the Cook Islands and it is an extraordinary honour for the Gallery to have this work in our collection – an exquisite example of collective cultural practice and craft.

(Living Archives, 25 October 2025 – 8 March 2026)