Fragments Possibly 1000 - 1476

Editor: So this piece is called *Fragments*, a textile work dating from sometime between 1000 and 1476, created by the Chancay culture. It’s at the Art Institute of Chicago. My first impression is just how delicate and ancient it seems. The little figures almost look like they’re dancing. What story do you think this piece tells? Curator: Oh, dancing indeed! Maybe they’re even whispering secrets across time. Look at the repeating geometric patterns and those stylized figures; they are full of life! Given the Chancay people's coastal culture, could those figures perhaps be representations of sea birds or some other aspect of their environment? Do you notice how the artist combines the abstract and representational elements, playing with the balance? It speaks to a sophisticated understanding of visual language, wouldn't you say? Editor: I do, and I hadn't even thought of the connection to the ocean! The symmetry of the little characters juxtaposed with what appear to be trees creates a unique visual. Do you see any spiritual symbolism in those shapes? Curator: Symbolism is everywhere in works like these, darling! In a spiritual sense, the woven fibres could represent connection, and each shape probably held layers of meaning that are lost to us today, inviting pure conjecture, and a splash of fantasy. These textiles were often found in burial sites, suggesting ritualistic significance. The fragments hint at a larger narrative, like a few words salvaged from a lost poem. Does the aged monochromatic picture create a sense of mystery for you, or just show a history? Editor: Definitely mystery. Seeing it this way, I feel I’ve just glimpsed a moment frozen in time. So powerful to look at something that has meaning far beyond the surface! Curator: Precisely! The textile offers us fragmented clues of ancient beliefs and everyday life that continue to speak, provided you know how to listen with your eyes...and feel with your imagination.