Skirt (Aksu) 1950 - 1960

This Skirt, or Aksu, was made with fiber, in an unknown place, by an unknown maker. The colours are so striking here, a beautiful palette of warm reds, oranges and browns. The process of creating such intricate designs with textiles is fascinating - so different to how I approach a canvas, and yet there's a similarity in how the artist builds up the image. I love the texture of the fabric, it looks so soft and inviting. Notice the vertical lines of color and the border decorations, each one telling a story through its color and form. It’s hard to say for sure what tools were used to make this, but you can see the process of weaving so clearly. In the center, the brown is almost solid, but then the colors on the edges add movement. It reminds me of the work of Anni Albers and other Bauhaus artists who embraced the potential of textiles as a fine art form. There's a sense of tradition and history embedded in this piece, yet it feels incredibly modern. Isn't it amazing how a simple object like a skirt can hold so much meaning?