Shoulder Cloth (Slendang) c. 20th century

This shoulder cloth, or Slendang, was created with fiber, and now resides at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. Look at the way the colors shift, they’re not quite red, not quite pink, but somewhere delightfully in between. It gives the whole piece a hazy, dreamlike quality. Now, think about the texture of this textile. Can you imagine running your fingers along those woven threads? The overall effect is one of intricate detail and subtle variation. Notice how the patterns shift and change. There’s a field of dotted detail, interspersed with bands of horizontal stripes, and more figurative, decorative elements. It's like a conversation happening across the surface, each motif speaking to the others. The anonymous artist who created this cloth knew how to create something amazing. It reminds me a bit of Sheila Hicks, who takes textiles to a whole other level, creating these huge, sculptural installations. This Slendang is a reminder that art is everywhere.