KURO

Mona Ardeleanu’s edition, KURO, 2021, is a fine art print taken from the motif of her eponymous painting. Ardeleanu creates intricate still lifes of textiles, fabrics, and other ornaments of the body, which range in heritage and history. KURO takes specifically from the Japanese kimono, which hangs impossibly on the wall like a veil or shroud. Gravity pulls at the edges of the garment, and below, interlocking chains suggest a form of confinement and possible subservience. Ardeleanu has long been fascinated by the rich, detailed work of two-dimensional representations that are meant to be worn on the body, pulling these fabrics from their intended purpose – to cover and adorn. Their strange and captivating isolation provides much room to appreciate the design and character of these pieces of clothing, which, in their displayed state in KURO, also signal the conspicuous absence of the individuals for whom they were intended.