Woman's head band c. 1970s

This headband was made by Sema Naga. The Sema Naga are a tribal group living in the Northeast of India. This woman’s headband is woven with incredible precision. I can only imagine what it was like to sit down and patiently weave the red and yellow plant fibers into this decorative headpiece. The repeated chevron pattern reminds me of the paintings of Agnes Martin, whose focus on geometry and grids created a meditative experience for her viewers. The artist's work is so much more than mere decoration; it's an example of how color, material, and pattern can come together to create something beautiful and meaningful. In this piece, each choice, each weft, contributes to the overall harmony. It connects us to the Sema Naga’s rich tradition of craftsmanship and their unique way of seeing the world.