Skirt c. 20th century

This skirt, from an anonymous maker, is a riot of pattern and color. I love how the repetition creates a rhythm, a kind of visual heartbeat. The material seems to be dyed, and it has such a tactile quality. You can almost feel the fabric between your fingers. Look closely, and you can see the slight imperfections in the pattern, the little wobbles and variations that reveal the hand of the artist. I like how the pinks and blacks play off against the neutral ground. It creates a kind of optical vibration which lifts the whole piece. The way the pattern is constructed reminds me of some of the work of Yayoi Kusama, with her obsessive repetition and focus on the handmade. It's a reminder that art is always a conversation, a back-and-forth between artists across time and space. What do you see? What does it make you feel? There’s no right or wrong answer.