Fabric piece c. 20th century

This fabric piece was made by Maya, but we don't know when or where, and it is currently held at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. The process here looks like a conversation. I'm picturing the maker deciding, 'what if I put this next to that', building the image block by block. There is a repetition to the shapes and colors, but there are also inconsistencies. The palette is rich and earthy, with reds, browns, and purples. The motifs almost look like stylized flowers. But there is an ambiguity, too. In the border, there's a repeated figure that looks like a sideways heart. It's a bit naive but it's not symmetrical. This lack of absolute perfection gives it a human feeling, and a kind of authenticity. It reminds me of Sheila Hicks, who also worked with textiles in a way that blurred the lines between craft and fine art. Ultimately, it suggests a space for the viewer to get lost in this rhythm of color, pattern, and subtle deviations.