Man's wrapper c. 20th century

This 'Man's wrapper' was woven by Tang Khul Naga, but we don’t know exactly when. It’s deceptively simple, right? A big rectangle made of black and red stripes. What gets me is the making, the real physicality of it. Those stripes aren't just colors; they’re threads, lines built up, one after another. Think of the weaver, their hands moving, the rhythm of the loom. Each pass of the shuttle creating the fabric. Notice the edges and the little fringes, and the tiny squares that define the large blocks of colour. There’s a beautiful sense of order, but also the slight imperfections of something handmade. And it reminds me that art doesn't always have to be complicated to be powerful. Sometimes, it’s about taking basic elements – line, color, texture – and putting them together in a way that feels both familiar and totally new. Agnes Martin comes to mind, with her subtle grid paintings, similarly using repetition and simple forms to create a meditative, almost spiritual effect.