Panel from a bed cover (xilankapu) c. late 19th century

Editor: This is a late 19th-century cotton textile, a panel from a bed cover made by Tujia artisans. The repeated geometric patterns are beautiful, but the condition makes it feel fragile. What stories do you see woven into this piece? Curator: It is striking, isn't it? This xilankapu offers us a powerful insight into Tujia women's lives. While seemingly just a decorative object, these textiles functioned as powerful statements of cultural identity, especially considering the historical context of marginalization and cultural suppression faced by the Tujia people within the broader Chinese socio-political landscape. Notice the intricate geometric designs. What do they evoke for you? Editor: I hadn’t thought of them as statements, more like…ornamentation? They feel almost modern, yet so old. They do seem to have repeated diamond shapes with some organic qualities. Curator: Exactly. These designs weren't merely aesthetic choices, but a visual language. They encode cosmological beliefs and historical narratives central to Tujia identity. Think about the act of weaving itself – a communal activity often passed down through generations of women, strengthening social bonds and preserving cultural memory. So, in a sense, these textiles served as quiet acts of resistance, maintaining a distinct cultural identity. How does considering this history change how you perceive the object? Editor: It gives the geometric patterns a voice. I’m seeing the bed cover panel now as a tangible form of cultural resilience, rather than simply as an artifact. Curator: Precisely. And it challenges us to look beyond the surface of art, and to consider the complex social and political realities woven into its very fabric. The quiet stories told, despite everything. Editor: Thank you for pointing that out. I will definitely carry this lens of cultural context with me.