Mantle 1975 - 1980

This mantle was woven by Maya peoples, but we don't have a date for it. The textile is a fascinating example of repetition and variation. You know, how certain motifs or patterns keep coming back in slightly altered ways? It makes you think about how we approach a task, repeating and refining it over time. Looking closely, you can see the texture of the threads. The artist uses red and purple to create forms that resemble flowers. The weave is tight and dense, forming lines, diamonds and floral shapes. It's a testament to the artist's patience and skill, each thread carefully placed to create the overall design. Notice the fringes at each end? They make me think of Agnes Martin's stripes: an embrace of ambiguity. The way the Maya peoples repeat and adjust the patterns reminds me of how art can be an ongoing conversation with itself. There's no fixed meaning, just a continuous exploration of ideas.