Cloth c. 20th century

This cloth was woven by the Yoruba people and now resides at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. It’s all about rhythm, right? The way the colors tick and tock. I’m drawn to the bands of deep indigo and the bright electric blue. They aren’t flat, exactly, but have a gentle fuzziness. They frame the dusty pink and plum rectangles, which aren’t really rectangles at all. Up close you can see the irregularities, the tiny shifts that give it its energy. It reminds me of Paul Klee, actually. I think of his small, jewel-like watercolors where he’s playing with grids and grounds, letting colors breathe and bleed into each other. Both artists understand how to balance intention with spontaneity, control with chance. There’s so much care in the making, but also a willingness to let the materials do their thing. In the end, you’re left with something that feels both ancient and brand new.