Bag for Koran c. early 20th century

This bag for a Koran, made by an anonymous artist, is a riot of colors and patterns that feels so contemporary, even though it could be centuries old! I wonder about the person who made this. Sewing is so different from painting, but, like painting, it’s about building up layers, making decisions, and correcting mistakes. The design seems to have grown organically from the center. I can imagine them piecing together fragments of fabric, each with its own history and texture, working intuitively, shifting colors and shapes until a harmonious composition emerges. And those embroidered stars! Each one a tiny act of intention, radiating outwards. It reminds me that art-making is always a form of conversation across time. We all riff off of each other’s ideas, recycling, repurposing, and reimagining. The artist who made this bag probably never imagined it hanging in a museum, but here it is, speaking to us now.