Skirt c. 20th century

This tubular skirt was made by Dayak weavers, but we don’t know exactly when. I can almost see the weaver, can’t you? Sitting at their loom, threads pulled taut, patiently coaxing these geometric figures into being. The top section is red, with these almost hazy stripes, and then that band of dark patterned shapes, with a larger section below featuring similar motifs, maybe houses or people. The shapes are angular but also soft, because they're made of thread and not hard-edged. It’s so impressive—the way they've balanced this intricate design with the overall feel of the textile. Textiles and paintings are always in conversation. Like painters, weavers must have an intuitive sense of color, rhythm, and composition. They are both trying to create feeling and meaning in their work. This skirt reminds me that art is a kind of slow thinking, made with our hands, over time.