Minneapolis Institute of Art

Panel

Kuba artist

Date

mid 20th century

Medium

Raffia

Culture

Kuba

Department

Arts of Global Africa

Institution

Minneapolis Institute of Art

The designers of Kuba textiles, traditionally women, are driven by technical skill, patience, and creativity. And the experimentation and innovation comes through in their strikingly original works. These three panels are constructed entirely from raffia palm fiber; the two smaller panels are embroidered in a technique that mimics woven velvet. Thousands of tiny stitches are looped and cut to create a dense, raised texture. The panel at the lower left, not yet complete, reveals the time-consuming process. The larger of the three panels is embellished with appliquéd shapes. Several panels are joined together, perhaps the start of a larger project. Many Kuba textiles are joined in this way to form 12-feet-long—or longer—cloths, which are wrapped around a woman’s body to form a layered skirt. Democratic Republic of the Congo, Africa

The authoritative record is held by Minneapolis Institute of Art. LinkedCulture surfaces this object and its connections; it does not alter institutional metadata.