Skirt or loin cloth c. 20th century

This "Skirt or loin cloth" was made by an artist from the Mru community, and it now resides in the Minneapolis Institute of Art. Just look at the deep, saturated colours, this really speaks to me of the artist’s knowledge and access to the materials around them. The texture is incredible; the threads create small irregularities, catching the light and giving the material a handcrafted, almost sculptural quality. See the red central section of the piece? Each small motif, whether it's an "X" or an "O," is a testament to the artist's dedication. The patterns aren’t perfectly symmetrical, and that’s what I love about it, those minor variations imbue the piece with life and movement. It reminds me of the work of Anni Albers, who looked at weaving in terms of the language and structure. This piece uses the same language, the same grid, but to entirely different ends, suggesting the universality of abstraction. In the end, this piece celebrates the ambiguous and the personal, inviting us to find our own stories within it.