Students, art-lovers, and passers-by dropped in to Studio Huddle on March 23 to check out Mirra Kardonne’s debut exhibit. The intimate space was abuzz with conversation and the smooth sounds of Gypsy jazz, as the eclectic group of observers took in the collection. Good food, good wine, good music, and good art — the evening was a feast for all the senses.
The collection is intensely personal, as evinced from pieces like “Death Notice” in which the artist painted her grandmother and superimposed a death notice written in Hebrew. As personal as the pieces are, however, anyone who has loved, lost, and hoped to love again can readily see themselves in this collection. It is a fierce and lucid pursuit of truth, and a visceral catharsis. Kardonne explores the layers of identity that are usually hidden, using the human body in its most honest form to uncover them one by one.
The common thread pierced through each piece in the collection is a sense of sorrow and longing tempered by hope. The raw, evocative nature of the pieces finds partner in the curious techniques employed in their creation. Crushed dried flowers, newsprint, cloth, and shattered glass immediately catch the observer’s eye and demand their attention. Once drawn in, the observer is captivated by how the flowers are used for shading and contouring, and the manner in which the cloth and newsprint bring a figure to life. Kardonne’s use of these materials is not artificial or boring; rather, the way she has placed them is completely organic and it is obvious that they are essential to the pieces.
Kardonne is a young, up-and-coming local artist who draws inspiration from heritage as much as from her experiences. This year has been particularly fruitful for her, and she describes it as a period of tremendous energy release. The collection is beautiful, dramatic, and unexpected, and Kardonne’s fresh techniques and intensity are sure to get her noticed.
Kardonne is also an actress, and will be participating in this year’s Fringe Festival. She also has a series of YouTube clips featuring readings from Vice.
