Mat c. 20th century

This mat was made by an anonymous Tutsi artist, and I can only imagine the hours of labour and love that went into its making. Just picture them sitting there, weaving these materials together with their hands, maybe singing or chatting with friends. The repeated gesture of weaving, back and forth, back and forth, is almost meditative. It’s so cool how the purple zigzags create a rhythm across the surface, like a visual heartbeat. It kind of reminds me of Agnes Martin’s grids, but way more tactile. You know, art isn’t just about fancy oil paintings in museums. Sometimes it’s about the everyday objects that people make and use. There's a real conversation happening here, a shared language of making that connects us across time and cultures. It's a reminder that creativity is all around us, waiting to be discovered in the most unexpected places.