Skirt c. 20th century

This skirt was made by Katu, with what looks like natural dyes and woven fibers, sometime in the past, and it just sings with process. The horizontal stripes of reddish-brown against the dark ground are simple, but they vary just enough to give a sense of rhythm. Then you get to the bottom with those diamond shapes, a whole different kind of work. I think about the person who made this, how they carefully made each stitch, each little variation a testament to their hand. Look closely and you can see the slight imperfections, the little wobbles in the lines. It reminds me of Hilma af Klint’s early weavings, which also embrace this kind of beautiful imperfection. Art like this isn’t about perfection; it’s about feeling, about the artist's touch. It’s about the ongoing conversation between the maker and the material. It’s about seeing and experiencing the world in a new way.