Ilgich c. early 20th century

This Ilgich at the Minneapolis Institute of Art, made by Kungrat, is a textile with a party of colors all stitched together, just look at that joyful palette! It feels like the artist approached the making of this piece as a playful process, each stitch a building block in a colorful, abstract world. Now, let’s talk texture. The surface is alive with the tiny, tangible stitches, you can almost feel the labor of love that went into it. Notice the red circles bursting out from the center of the piece, like little suns. They anchor the whole composition, creating a hypnotic rhythm. This piece reminds me a bit of the work of Sophie Taeuber-Arp, with its geometric abstraction and craft-based approach. Both artists create a sense of whimsy and joy through the arrangement of colors and shapes. It's a reminder that art is an ongoing conversation, a way of playing with forms and ideas that transcends time.