Fringe c. 20th century

This piece, called Fringe, was made by an anonymous artist and is constructed of small sections of different colored woven yarn. The process of weaving, like painting, is all about layering, about building up textures and patterns bit by bit. You start with a simple thread, and you end up with something dense and complex. If you look closely, you can see how the individual strands of yarn come together to form these blocks of color. There’s something so satisfying about the way the texture of the fringe contrasts with the smooth surface beneath it. It’s like the artist is inviting you to reach out and touch the work, to feel the softness of the yarn against your skin. The repetition of colours is almost like a musical score – the fringe looks like it could play some kind of tune! 'Fringe' reminds me of Sheila Hicks' work, who, like this anonymous artist, elevated humble materials to high art. Just like a painter, Hicks created works that have a deep impact, even though they use soft materials. Art is a conversation across time, where ideas are constantly exchanged, transformed, and reinterpreted.