Panel (see also 1975.1.1932) 1871 - 1935

This panel, of unknown date, was woven in China. It’s a deep, saturated red, almost like a memory of a color. The repeat pattern is subtle, like a whisper of order over the whole surface. Looking closely, I start to notice the way the dye settles differently in different areas, giving the fabric a mottled appearance. The texture is alive with tiny variations. It’s the kind of surface that feels both handmade and intentional, a record of process. I think about how each knot and intersection of thread is a decision, a small act of creation. The overall effect is mesmerizing. I'm reminded of Anni Albers, and her radical approach to weaving as a form of drawing, of thinking through material. With the Albers, and with this piece, there’s an openness to the possibility of art, a refusal to limit creativity to a single medium or mode of expression. Art is an ongoing conversation, and ambiguity is part of the point.