Tsii' Edo' Ai (fiddle) 1895 - 1905

This is a Tsii' Edo' Ai, or fiddle, crafted by an Athabascan family. The pale, cylindrical body of the instrument, complemented by its bow, immediately strikes one with a sense of geometric harmony. The instrument’s surface is articulated with painted designs that impose a structure onto the material. Observe how the triangles, carefully positioned and coloured in alternating hues, create a rhythm. A series of diamonds, aligned along the body, act as a visual melody. The texture of the natural material, combined with the ordered application of geometric patterns, creates a dialogue between spontaneity and control. The arrangement of shapes and lines invites us to consider broader structural relationships and the role of sign systems within cultural expression. The formal elements of the fiddle, the shapes, patterns and textures, come together to express and embody the cultural narrative of the Athabascan people. Meaning is not static; it's continually re-evaluated through our encounters with the object.