What role does abstraction play in fabric’s challenge to material hierarchies?

Abstraction plays a pivotal role in fabric's challenge to material hierarchies by disrupting conventional perceptions of value and medium. Traditional hierarchies often prioritize rigid, durable materials like metal or stone over textiles, which are historically associated with craft or domesticity. Through abstraction, fabric artists elevate textiles by emphasizing form, color, and texture over functionality, blurring the line between "high" and "low" art. This approach recontextualizes fabric as a medium capable of profound conceptual depth, challenging entrenched biases in art and design. By stripping away literal representation, abstraction allows fabric to transcend its utilitarian roots, asserting its place in contemporary artistic discourse. Ultimately, this subversion invites a reevaluation of material worth, democratizing artistic expression and expanding the boundaries of creative practice.