Ahuayo c. 20th century

This woven ahuayo, crafted by an anonymous artist, shows the beautiful possibilities that emerge when simple materials and colours are put to work. Here's what I imagine: the weaver, sitting at their loom, choosing each thread, carefully interlocking the blacks, reds, and whites. There's a rhythm to it, a back and forth, a push and pull. I love the horizontal bands, a kind of landscape, or maybe a musical score. The colors feel grounded, earthy, yet the thin lines offer a visual complexity, inviting the eye to wander. When you consider a piece like this, it's hard not to think about other artists who explored similar terrain – Agnes Martin, Anni Albers, or even, in a weird way, the stripe paintings of someone like Gene Davis. We are all constantly borrowing from each other, aren’t we? Looking, absorbing, remixing. And this is what art is all about: conversation, inspiration, and the endless exploration of form, color, and meaning.