Woman's Blouse c. 20th century

This Woman's Blouse in the Minneapolis Institute of Art by Kachin is like a painting, only with thread. I can imagine the artist thinking about how to create a space for the body, working in the dark with flashes of red and gold along the edges. It’s so interesting to think about the physicality of making something like this, the way the artist would have to work with their hands and body to create these textures and patterns. The way the colors are placed next to each other, it's almost like a conversation, or a dance. The dark background makes the lighter colors pop, and the red and gold accents add warmth and richness. I wonder what the artist was thinking about as they were making this piece. Were they thinking about the person who would wear it? Were they thinking about the history of their people, and the traditions that this blouse represents? I think we are always in conversation with artists from the past. We are inspired by them, and we build on their ideas to create our own work. Painting is like that too - an ongoing exchange of ideas across time.