A beautiful, ancient tapa (or siapo) made from the inner bark of the paper mulberry tree (Broussonetia papyrifera), beaten, softened and then dried, this tapa is decorated with labyrinthine patterns painted in red and brown ochre on a light background. These designs, composed of continuous lines with angular, symmetrical shapes, are typical of the Gulf of Papua region. Sometimes called "clan designs", they carry a strong identity and spiritual dimension. They evoke guardian spirits, natural forces or mythical places associated with ancestors. The geometric layout expresses a conception of the world based on the circulation of vital energy and the interconnections between humans, nature and the invisible world. Gulf of Papua, Papua New Guinea, Melanesia Mulberry tree bark, pigments, slight old and visible damage, very well preserved. H. 92.5 x 98 cm (111 x 111 framed) Provenance : Philippe Guimiot, Brussels Belgian private collection, acquired from the latter