Mat c. 20th century

This mat was made by Tutsi artists, and it’s right here at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. Look closely at how they made it. These lines aren’t just painted on, they’re woven in. It's a process that's as much about touch and feel as it is about sight. Imagine the artist’s hands, patiently threading and weaving. See how the purple shapes push against the beige background, not in a clash, but like two dancers in step? If you squint, the zigzags become a blurred kind of purple haze hovering above the mat. I love how something so simple in form can create such an incredible visual effect. It reminds me a bit of some early Sonia Delaunay textiles, where color and shape meet in these wonderfully surprising and unusual ways. Thinking about it, art is just like weaving: pulling together different strands to make something new and exciting. Isn't it wonderful?