Vase c. 20th century

This Ngbandi "Vase" at the Minneapolis Institute of Art is made of fired clay, and it's all about the surface. See how the artist coaxes this incredible texture, almost like wood grain, from the clay itself? It’s a reminder that art-making is really a conversation with materials. Look closely, and you'll notice those bands of white dots encircling the vase. Each one is an individual mark. Imagine the patience, the focus, required to apply those dots. These repeated marks give the vase a sense of rhythm, like a visual song. But they also emphasize the handmade quality, the hours spent shaping and decorating this vessel. The dark patches add an intriguing contrast. They seem almost accidental, like scorch marks, but they balance the composition. It is the same tension in some of Lucie Rie's pots – functional, yet deeply expressive. Ultimately, art is about what we bring to it, and how we find ourselves reflected back.