Oremerin c. 20th century

This *Oremerin* textile work by an anonymous Yoruba artist feels like a world in itself, carefully built from indigo dye. Imagine the hours of meticulous work, the dipping and re-dipping, the slow reveal of the pattern, a sort of batik-like image-making. It's got this patchwork quilt feel, each square a different world – some are dense and patterned, while others are more open and airy. I can feel the hand of the artist, making decisions, changing their mind, letting the dye do its thing and it's beautiful. Looking at the way the indigo pools and varies, I think about Agnes Martin and her serene grids. I think about the Gee's Bend quilters, who took simple geometric shapes and made them sing. It's all connected, isn't it? We're all just riffing off each other, trying to make sense of the world one stitch, one brushstroke, one square at a time.