Tapa Cloth Skirt 1995

Here's a skirt that was crafted by Baruga, featuring meandering red lines that create these intriguing, almost heart-like shapes on a rectangular surface. I imagine the artist carefully applying the pigment, maybe ochre, letting it bleed slightly into the fibers, each stroke a deliberate act, building up these rhythmic compositions. What was Baruga thinking as the piece came together? Maybe she was humming a tune. I can imagine her hand moving steadily, confidently, guided by tradition and her own creative intuition. It reminds me a little of Guston, the way the lines have a graphic, comic quality. Look at the little hatched lines edging the red motifs! They create a buzz, an energy, making you want to dive in. When you look closely, you can see the slight imperfections, the wobbles in the lines, a reminder of the human hand and eye. This skirt speaks to how art transcends time and place, it's a reminder of the ongoing conversation between artists, each inspiring the next.