Fragment (Band) Possibly 800 - 1100

This textile fragment was created by an artist of the Wari culture. The vertical orientation of the weaving leads the eye from top to bottom, with a composition divided into distinct registers. The color palette is dominated by a deep red, which contrasts with the geometric forms woven in greens, blues, and browns. The textile presents a series of stylized figures, possibly deities or important symbols, arranged in a structured, grid-like pattern. This formal arrangement suggests a deliberate encoding of meaning, where each shape and its placement contribute to a larger narrative or symbolic system. The use of geometric abstraction, typical of Wari textiles, invites semiotic interpretation, suggesting an underlying structure of signs and symbols. Notice how the texture created through weaving adds depth and complexity. This fragment challenges our fixed notions of art, asking us to consider how textiles function not just aesthetically but as intricate systems of communication.