Arts and crafts
 The
style of art in Vanuatu differs from one island to the
next and, like the customs and traditions, it has
remained very rich and varied.
For the most part, it is used to depict the age-old
lifestyle, reproduced in the form of items for daily
use, such as dishes, or for ceremonial purposes.
Carvings rank first in the artistic life of Vanuatu, but
its paintings, weaving, tattooing and pottery are
definitely worth a mention too.
Carvings
 Materials used for carving are hardwood, the softer tree
fern and stone.
The main carvings are made of wood : bowls and platters used
for preparing food, in the shape of turtles, birds, fish, in
stylised form. Also pestles, knives, weapons, war clubs,
spears and bows.
Mostly they represent human figures. Among other carved
items, one finds pig-killing clubs, chiefs' staffs, masks
made out of hardwood, ferns, plant paste, clay or coconut
fibre.
Painting
 Painting
serves to finish off the faces and the headdresses, and also
the dancing apparel and the tamtams (slit gongs).
It is also seen on the bark used for carving in the Banks
Islands and on some of the pottery.
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