Ceremonial apron c. 20th century

This striking Ceremonial Apron by the Mien people is part of the collection at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. Look at how the colours and shapes repeat and reflect each other, echoing the way meaning is made through repetition, mirroring, and rhythm. Imagine the handwork, the labour, and the patience that goes into crafting something like this, the pink cross over the main body of the apron looks like a textile 'X marks the spot.' What could that be about? What does it demarcate or celebrate? What could we find if we dug beneath it? Notice the patterns are laid down in small stitches, building block by building block, and the apron’s surface is punctuated by tassels, coins, and embroidery. It feels like a layered map of the maker's world. The Mien apron reminds me of the work of contemporary textile artist, Diedrick Brackens, who also imbues traditional weaving techniques with personal and cultural narratives. Both artists remind us that art is a form of cultural memory, continually shaped and reshaped by the hands that make it.