'COVERED II' Acrylic and Mixed Media on Canvas

The piece titled "Covered II" by Ulani Curry is a textural abstraction that plays on the contrast between the richness of gold leaf and the depth of a black, textured background. The artwork features an organic interplay of forms, with the gold leaf applied in a manner that suggests fragmentation or an underlying structure that has been partially concealed or revealed. This creates a sense of both emergence and obscurity, as if something precious and luminous is breaking through or being encased within a dark expanse.
The texture is a critical element of this piece, adding a tactile dimension that invites the viewer to imagine the physicality of the surface. The raised, craggy areas of black provide a rugged topography against the smooth, reflective quality of the gold. This juxtaposition is evocative of natural phenomena, such as a landscape seen from above, where light catches the crests of mountains or the glint of a mineral deposit in an otherwise shadowed terrain.
The use of gold leaf also imparts a sense of opulence and value, often associated with precious metals, creating a visual metaphor for worth, both hidden and apparent. The overall composition, while abstract, may evoke metaphysical themes or the idea of natural beauty and wealth that lies beneath the surface, waiting to be uncovered. Curry's work here is both bold and intricate, offering a rich visual experience that is open to multiple interpretations.