Man's ceremonial turban c. 20th century

Editor: So, this is a 20th-century Bajau ceremonial turban. It’s textile work, with these dense geometric and figural patterns in red, green, and yellow. It reminds me of stories; almost like a flattened tapestry. What stands out to you about this piece? Curator: Immediately, the weight of tradition, encoded within each stitch. Consider, this isn't just decorative. It’s fiber imbued with the memories of its makers and its wearers, threads of identity woven together. It speaks of journeys. Do you see how the horse and rider motif repeats? Editor: Yes, in those horizontal registers. It seems intentional but also sort of… naive? Curator: “Naive” is one reading, yes, but it also echoes ancient forms of storytelling, where repetition and stylized imagery build narrative resonance. Think about the Bayeux Tapestry. Though different in context, the method is related. Do you see how the pattern almost overwhelms the narrative scenes? Editor: I do, yes. The patterns almost camouflage the figures. Is there something symbolic in that balance? Curator: Absolutely! Perhaps the individual is secondary to the collective, the journey more important than the rider. Or it represents harmony between nature and culture. What do these riders represent to you? How does it tie in with our shared cultural memory? Editor: That’s fascinating. It does prompt consideration of the bigger picture rather than individual stories. Curator: Precisely. These objects were, and are, used within community performance, rituals, rites of passage and commemoration. To actively recall shared histories through visual engagement with symbols on the turbans or ceremonial cloths. That, for me, is it's biggest power, revealing how shared memory binds societies together across generations. Editor: That's such an enriching perspective! I definitely see this turban in a completely different light now. Curator: Me too! Considering your insight regarding a flattening of narrative! Each look is transformative.