Pendant (Chamaisa) c. 20th century

This pendant, or Chamaisa, was made by a Tuareg artist and now lives at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. It is made of leather and metal. I find myself wondering, what does it mean to mark something? Who decides? I bet that's what the artist was thinking, too. The little raised dots in the center of each diamond look almost like rivets, but maybe they’re soft. I wonder what they're made of. You know, the artist might have been thinking about other artists, the same way that I do. What would it be like to see them at work? I feel a bit like I'm in the studio with the artist, watching them put the piece together, and thinking about how it will affect its wearer. It is interesting how the artist has explored geometry and symmetry. This piece feels like an ongoing conversation with other metal and leather workers, connecting across time and inspiring new ideas.