Permanent collection
Tuareg Pattern on a Blue Background from the Sahel and the Sahara
- Year
- 2024
- Medium
- Textile
- Status
- On display
Made in Bamako in 2024, this monumental textile by Malian artist Abdoulaye Konaté is composed of hundreds of dyed fabric strips layered in shifting bands of blue, violet and white. Its title and motifs evoke the indigo-blue culture of the Tuareg peoples of the Sahel and the Sahara, translating the geometric patterns of nomadic dress, leatherwork and jewellery into a shimmering abstract field. The work reflects Konaté’s long engagement with West African textile traditions as living heritage and with the fragile environments and communities of the Sahel. Acquired by Louvre Abu Dhabi in 2026 and presented in Living Legacies. Protecting Heritage. Building Hope.