Skirt c. late 20th century

This skirt was woven by Tai Lao, though we don’t know when, and now lives at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. Look at the way the plum-coloured weave falls and bunches. It’s really something to imagine the whole process, how the threads were dyed, the planning of the pattern, the time spent weaving on the loom. The whole piece is divided into horizontal bands, each with a different feel. The top one is light and airy, almost bleached out, then there’s a middle band of geometric patterns. But that main block of plum just sucks you in with its depth and simplicity. The bottom border is similar to the one above, but it is a bit more decorated. There's a real dialogue going on here, a dance between the different sections. It reminds me a bit of a Sheila Hicks textile, but with a quieter, more meditative quality. It shows how even the simplest of forms, like a skirt, can become a complex and beautiful work of art.