Head covering c. 1920

Editor: Here we have what is believed to be a "Head Covering" created around 1920. The craftsmanship is quite striking - weaving from silk thread. Initially, it gives a sombre mood due to its dominant dark colours. I’m curious – what visual narratives do you feel are communicated by this weaving? Curator: Well, my initial thought dives straight into touch! You almost feel the history etched into each woven fiber. Look closer, let your eyes swim through those subtle red patterns, and that earthy toned hem. It whispers stories, doesn't it? Stories from its East-Asian origins of ritual and artistry intertwined, where maybe devotion was woven into daily life through decorative patterns. Does it speak to you in that way? Editor: Yes! I also notice that a rather large circle shape dominates the center of the silk weaving. Curator: Right, a mesmerizing mandala! Circles signify wholeness, eternity… the infinite dance. But, in this context, given it’s a head covering, it may also subtly communicate inner focus and enlightenment… like an encompassing halo that cloaks one’s being in a contemplative and protective grace. This artist wasn’t just weaving, they were composing a sacred space. I wonder what those colours may have meant in that era? What colours would YOU have used if you had composed such an article? Editor: Oh! That's so true, such intricate composition for a seemingly simple object. Had you not shared your perspectives I would've seen it more superficially! Curator: Isn’t it beautiful? Now you get it. And this "getting it" is, for me, what all art ultimately strives to communicate; not through perfection, but shared discovery.