Starting from pottery to basket-weaving, Fiji’s immense cultural vibrancy is something to watch out for. Traditional art inheres in the life-blood of Fijian demography. With the ever-expanding global village stretching its cultural earnestness, past hidden glories of Fijian art continue to come to the fore. So for your upcoming Fiji holidays, consider immersing in the following spectacles of indigenous art. 1. Pottery
Fijian pottery dates from the remote thirteenth century. Its traces may be found abundantly in the lower Sigatoka valley, the province of Ra and the Rewa Delta, to name but a few. Each district boasts of its peculiar style of pottery. Generally, women are invested in pottery more than men. A distinctive feature of Fijian pottery is that it does not use the traditional pottery wheels. Instead, the bottom of the pot is shaped like a saucer, and the shape is gradually built up in slender coils. Fijian pottery is particularly remarkable against the fact that advanced implements are rarely used. Importantly, Fijian pottery is not glazed. It is widely confined to the indigenous tribes who use a plant-based varnish to enhance the storage capacity. 2. Masi and Tapa Masi and tapa are nothing but bark cloth. The art form is particularly evocative of South Pacific culture. The reason why it is called barkcloth is that Masi is produced from the bark of the paper mulberry tree. Barkcloth is generally confined to native women for it is laborious and time-consuming. You need to only browse through the local shops to purchase several kinds of Masi which come in intricate patterns. Better if you procure it directly from the villagers. Keep in mind that the thicker the masi, the better the quality. 3. Basket-Weaving Why not indulge in some basket-weaving on your next Fiji holidays? Basket-weaving is a particularly recognised form of art. Every village girl must learn weaving baskets (or mats and ibes) by the time she is ten. Almost every Fijian home has rugs and mats on the floors to sleep on. Although confined to indigenous culture, Fijian mats are symbols of opulence. These are given away as gifts at weddings and funerals. Or, in the event of the advent of a chief, Fijian rugs constitute a special appearance. Fijian culture is a dynamic potpourri of traditional and modern influences. It is art sourced straight from the blood-throb of the elements. Hence its purity, simplicity and incorruptibility!
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