At the heart of cultural and political diplomacy in the islands of Polynesia are vibrant bark cloth textiles, known as tapa that signify status and play a central role at all major ceremonial events. Known locally as masi, siapo, or hiapo the cloth is produced from the softened inner bark of trees, and is characterized by its unique materiality and the dynamic geometric designs that are painted, stamped, or stenciled onto its surface. Part of a textile tradition developed in the islands of Southeast Asia over 3,500 years ago, the transformation of individual strips of fiber into an entirely new surface evokes the reproductive potential of land (vanua; fanua), encapsulating its abundance and agency. Tapa: Art of the Gift in Polynesia will bring together 13 impressive works from the islands of Fiji, Samoa, Futuna, and Niue, highlighting spectacular, supple, and finely produced examples of bark cloth from The Met collection in addition to sculpted works and an exceptional hiapo on loan fr