Kesa (Buddhist priest's robe) 1871 - 1935

This Japanese Buddhist priest’s robe, or Kesa, shimmers with muted greens and browns, stitched into an intricate repeated pattern. Imagine the patient work of its making, the careful alignment of each piece, a labor of devotion. I’m thinking about the artist, or artists, maybe a group, sitting together, their hands moving in quiet rhythm. Each stitch a meditation, a pathway to calm. There is something both chaotic and deeply ordered about the surface. These rich patterns speak to me of nature, the organic push and pull of vines, the hidden geometry of flowers. And then, punctuating this intricate field, are squares of a brighter tone that catch the eye, they provide the wearer and the observer with a focal point. The piece reminds me of the quilts made by the Gee’s Bend quilters. They also used repurposed material to create unique geometric patterns and bold colour combinations with a similar focus on craft and care. The Kesa, like painting, is a world in itself, a space for contemplation, connection, and the ongoing exploration of form. Each fold and shadow holds a story.