Bowl c. 2000

This Nubian bowl, with its dark shades and patterned design, feels incredibly present, doesn't it? I imagine the artist, centuries ago, carefully carving into the surface, the tool gliding and scratching away at the material. What might they have been thinking as they repeated those zigzags and diamonds, turning the bowl in their hands, ensuring each mark aligned with the last? There's a rhythm to the patterns, a pulse that speaks to the maker's concentration and skill. The carved lines have a lovely roughness, catching the light in a way that makes the bowl seem to vibrate with energy. It reminds me of Agnes Martin's grids, but with earthiness. This bowl isn't just a container, it's a testament to the enduring human drive to create and adorn, to transform the everyday into something beautiful and meaningful. It reminds us that art is a conversation across time, each maker building on the ideas and techniques of those who came before.