Ornament c. 20th century

Curator: Oh, I'm immediately drawn in. There’s something so visually soothing about the symmetries at play. Editor: Indeed. What we have here is an "Ornament," a piece that comes to us from the 20th century, held within the collection of the Minneapolis Institute of Art. It is identified as a garment associated with the Short Skirt Miao people of China. Its fabrication integrates weaving, fiber art, collage and other methods of painting. Curator: Garment, ornament—the boundary feels deliciously blurred here, doesn't it? It’s functional art, or is it decorative functionality? The interplay of colors is also very grounded—the blues feel very "sky" like, while the deep reds make me feel deeply "earthed" in a sort of primordial way. I’m fascinated by how the creator used so many techniques here! Editor: It’s an object laden with cultural context. Miao textiles, like this one, serve as crucial visual markers of identity, particularly for women. The geometric patterns, constructed through weaving, print, embroidery, and silver adornments aren't merely aesthetic; they carry encoded meanings related to clan affiliation, social status, and cosmological beliefs. Curator: Do you see that tiny glint of silver? How utterly enchanting. They wink as if hiding secrets. And that masterful pleating work is truly a work of wonder—like origami fashioned of ink. What does that design suggest? Editor: Possibly resistance, because there have been documented instances where textile production among marginalized communities became an act of political defiance, an assertion of cultural heritage in the face of assimilation or oppression. Ornament becomes resistance when adornment turns defiant, and takes center stage when tradition is mobilized as a tool for survival. Curator: Such a potent testament to the way clothes have so much to tell beyond trends—woven memories of ancestors and quiet revolutions whispered in fabric. It really allows one to feel more embodied and more attuned to one's own personal experience. Editor: Exactly. By appreciating the Short Skirt Miao’s "Ornament," we’re engaging with a long and complex legacy where artistic creation becomes a potent form of cultural preservation and communal affirmation. These are tangible narratives, passed down across generations.