About the Silk and Steel Collection by Cudra Clover:
Cudra Clover is a remarkable new artist. Her latest collection, Silk and Steel, redefines the ancient art of silk painting with a breakthrough, modern aesthetic.
Silk painting first appeared in China over three thousand years ago, before making its way to Europe, where new techniques were introduced. Today, most silk artists paint delicate flowers and serene, idyllic landscapes. The effect is soothing and harmonious.
Clover’s latest pieces are stunningly different. In the Silk and Steel collection, a palate of vivid colors is lavished upon silk. But unlike the placid images we’ve come to expect, the images are bold, abstract, even startling.
This art doesn’t gloss over reality. Instead, it revels in the disorder and contradictions of the modern world. There is a sense of movement, of change, of an ever-quickening pace. And yet, amidst the chaos and confusion, the artist sees great beauty and meaning in life.
The contrast between Clover’s vision and her predecessors’ is enhanced by a nifty notion: Clover sets each piece against rusted metal frames. This juxtaposition of sensuous silk against cold, corroding steel seems a well-considered metaphor: our lives, like this art, are defined by how we face the contradiction between the beauty and harshness of our world.
After viewing the entire Silk and Steel collection, one is left with the impression that Clover has spun the dials of a time machine and transported silk art from hundreds of years in the past to a promising future, to be further defined in her upcoming works.
About the Artist: Cudra Clover is the pen name of Carey Arnholt Yashon. Clover began experimenting with silk painting in 2002. In the summer of 2006, Clover had her first show in Japan and in 2007, her work was selected for Art Maui in Hawaii. Clover lives on Maui with her husband Ben, where her art is on display in galleries and hotels. Besides creating abstract works like those in the Silk and Steel collection, Clover enjoys silk painting in more traditional forms. Her Hawaiiana pieces, which include tikis and underwater scenes, are favorites of art collectors and tourists visiting Maui. Clover is currently experimenting with illuminated silk paintings and is planning her own line of wearable art. She is also an accomplished musician and songwriter, whose compositions range from traditional exotica to highly experimental electronica.
