Skirt c. 20th century

This skirt, made by Lao craftspeople, now resides at the Minneapolis Institute of Art, its fabric a testament to time and tradition. Look at the color, how threads of deep reds are woven with darker shades to create a shifting, shimmering surface. The texture, too, speaks of process: the warp and weft creating subtle vertical striations. It feels almost like a painting, where the brushstrokes build a visual field. See that band at the bottom? A contrasting pattern, perhaps woven separately and then carefully attached, anchoring the whole composition with its geometric precision. It reminds me of Anni Albers' weavings. Like Albers, the anonymous maker of this skirt understands that cloth can be so much more than mere utility; it can be art. The skirt has ambiguity, maybe a trace of the wearer's story embedded in its folds.