Sleeping mat c. 20th century

Editor: So this is a sleeping mat, created by the Kuba people around the 20th century. It’s currently housed at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. It seems to be made with woven textiles and… what’s striking to me is the all-over geometric pattern. What can you tell me about the labor that goes into an artwork like this? Curator: Examining this mat through a materialist lens draws our attention to the production of this piece as much as the final form. Consider the sourcing and preparation of the textile itself – perhaps raffia palm? The weaving process certainly involved specialized knowledge and skill. And if it was intended as a sleeping mat, who performed the labor and for whom? Was it solely for personal use or part of a broader economic exchange? Editor: That’s interesting…I hadn’t really thought about the "who." So, thinking about who created it...how does knowing this mat was likely woven by a woman in the Kuba community inform its value, culturally or artistically? Curator: Knowing that these mats were often woven by women allows us to challenge traditional art historical narratives that often overlook or marginalize women's contributions to artistic production. We can ask: what power did the production of this textile give her? Were women’s designs relegated to the domestic sphere alone, or did this work carry symbolic or political weight? Was this "women's work" and thus relegated outside the mainstream? Editor: Wow, I'd never considered all of that... that really changes how I see this piece. Curator: It highlights the interconnectedness of artistic expression and lived experience, as well as labor. Editor: Exactly! It gives a voice to the unseen maker. It’s no longer just a patterned textile; it's evidence of cultural practice, and women's art. Curator: Precisely, recognizing this challenges our existing systems for appreciating artistic labor and skill!