Sari 1950 - 1975

This Sari was made at an unknown date by an anonymous artist. The red ground is overlaid with a pattern that has an all-over feel, yet it is also quite loose and uneven in its rendering, which gives it a wonderfully handmade quality. The texture of the fabric seems soft, pliable, and the colors, while rich, are not too saturated. The little motifs include small bird-like shapes, or teardrops with curled tendrils. There is a real sensitivity to the touch, and a painterly feel, even though the medium is textile. There is a certain kinship to the work of artists like Ree Morton, who used humble materials to make work that felt intimate and grand at the same time. Like art, this sari offers us many layers of meaning and feeling, without needing to declare a fixed interpretation.