Man's sash (Faja) 1910 - 1920

This Man’s sash, or Faja, was made by the Maya people, and what strikes me is the sheer amount of time and care it must have taken to create. The sash is all stripes, a rhythmic, colourful process. Each stripe isn’t quite perfect, and that's what's so exciting to me. Looking closely, I see reds, pinks, greens, and blues. The red stripes are bold, suggesting a vibrancy, while the softer pinks and blues create a kind of gentleness. It's this balance that makes the piece so compelling. The stripes look like they might be different widths, almost like the weaver was changing their mind as they went along. I like how the whole thing has this human, imperfect quality. It reminds me that art is about a conversation with the materials, an ongoing back and forth, rather than just a fixed idea. It makes me think of the colourful textiles of artists like Sheila Hicks, where the material itself takes centre stage. Ultimately, the sash is about the joy of making and the beauty of the unexpected.