Vase c. 20th century

This vase was made by an artist from the Ngbandi culture, but exactly when, we don’t know. Look at the way it’s formed—smooth curves in the bottom half and then tapering into a slender neck at the top. I imagine the artist carefully shaping the clay, feeling the contours take form under their hands. I can almost feel the earthiness of the raw material, imagine the artist’s focus as they apply each line, each dot with such precision. It reminds me of Agnes Martin’s grids, but with a totally different sensibility. Here, those subtle imperfections feel so much more…human. The dark patches at the bottom? Maybe a little accident, but one that gives the vase character, don't you think? It's like the artist is speaking to us across time and space, sharing something deeply personal through their craft. And that’s the thing about art, isn’t it? We’re all just riffing off each other, building on what came before, trying to make sense of the world in our own way.