Skirt c. 20th century

Shan made this textile skirt, sometime in the past, with what looks like dye on cloth. The colour palette is wild, and it feels like the artist wasn’t afraid of anything - purples, pinks, greens, and yellows. The material itself has a beautiful quality to it. It's got this delicate texture, and you can almost feel the way the dye has soaked into the fabric. The horizontal lines create an almost hypnotic effect, your eye jumps all over the place. But then, at the bottom, you’ve got this row of paisley motifs, and they bring a sense of groundedness to the whole thing. Take a closer look and you will see how no two paisleys are the same. This brings a really organic and personal feel to the piece. This work makes me think about other artists who use pattern in unexpected ways, like maybe Yayoi Kusama, but this piece has a totally unique energy. It shows how art is all about taking what's come before and making it your own. And ultimately, that’s what makes art so endlessly fascinating!