Wrapper (Skirt) c. 20th century

This wrapper or skirt was made by a Yoruba artist, and its vertical stripes immediately pull you upwards. Imagine the Yoruba artist at the loom, carefully planning how these light reflecting threads will intersect with the neutral ground. It’s like a dance: each thread laid with intention, building a delicate, shimmering surface. It's not just about the pattern; it's the slight imperfections, the almost-there symmetry, that give it soul. The artist had to trust the process, letting intuition guide the rhythm of the weave. You can see other artists experimenting with similar ideas, like Agnes Martin’s grids or even some of Sean Scully’s stripe paintings. It’s all connected, this conversation across cultures and mediums. And the sheen, the way the light plays on it, transforms the work depending on where you stand. It’s alive, constantly shifting, just like our own perspectives.