Ilgich c. early 20th century

This Ilgich, by Kungrat, now at the Minneapolis Institute of Art, looks to me like it was made with thread, needle, and cloth. I love the tension between the overall symmetry and the slight imperfections in each motif – those reds, yellows, and blues just humming against the dark background. I can imagine the artist sitting for hours, meticulously stitching each shape, making it up as they go, one stitch at a time. There's a real push-and-pull between intention and accident. I feel like the artist wanted it to be perfect, but also embraced the wabi-sabi of handmade creation, you know? The composition feels both ancient and totally now, like a textile-based riff on some abstract painting. And I bet other artists saw it as a visual resource, too, connecting it to their own practices and ideas. That’s how art evolves – artists in conversation across time, riffing on each other’s brilliance.