Skirt (Longyi) c. mid 20th century

This 'Skirt (Longyi)' was created by Shan people and is now held at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. Imagine the handwork involved in the creation of this textile - the black cloth at the top and then that glorious orange field of waves, black, white, black, white. It’s rhythmic and mesmerizing. The kind of pattern that makes your eyes vibrate. I wonder, what was the maker thinking? How did they hold the image of the skirt in their mind as the pattern evolved? Was it a pleasure? A burden? A meditation? It’s something that exists between painting and sculpture and architecture. I think about Agnes Martin or Bridget Riley and I wonder if they ever saw this skirt? Or if the maker of this skirt saw their work? I like imagining them all in conversation together. Creating the waves of the world.