Updated 5th July 2002

Silvo started to take classes at art school in Basel in 1988 and has always used mixed media. She makes all the canvases herself and also a lot of the framing. All of her art paintings are selfmade egg-tempera and oil on canvas, wood or corregated iron. Photographs printed onto silk are another art media too.

Growing up in Basel, Switzerland, with a father who was an industrial scrap metal dealer, Silvo developed an early liking for metal. As a child she used to go with him, sitting next to him in the truck, loading and unloading every kind of metal there is. On the many travels there would always be the search for contact with art and handcraft, drawing scenes of people in different cultures and as for example in Istanbul, where she was introduced to welding. Working for three years at a potteryshop she made artr sculptures of clay. Although the teachers at artschool in Switzerland suggested getting more into paintings, the connection to metal never ceased. Searching for industrial waste and getting inspired to create installations or use them in combination with painting is part of her work. Apart from various courses in art drawing etc. at art school in Basel she has also undergone a two-year-course in graphic design. Photography has been a means of capturing moments of cultural expression throughout her travels as well as self-portraying. Another important way of expression to her is music, which led to taking lessons from various jazz musicians in Basel.

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It is an important issue of Silvo's work to express female emotions in art, like vulnerability, passion and eroticism. In history women have always been supressed and every day, to this day, there are brave women struggling for what they believe is their right as a human being. In 1995 on a trip to New York, Silvo went to the United Nations to see what political issues were on the agenda. As it happens, there was a hearing of the Committee for discrimination against women. Two days she spent hearing respresentatives of women of various nationalities, giving speeches of their situation of rights of law. It has made a deep impression on her. Although it is not in her nature to be politically active, she likes to express it in other ways through art.

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"The women's situation" has always been a concern of Silvo and part of her life, which has led her into delving into the role of women in society. Being of gipsy descent she has been drawn to the Arabic desert over many years. Having been in a relationship with a Jordan man, she had a lot of insight into the role women play under the influence of Islam. Being brought up very liberally it was intriguing to see behind the veil and rising the question what true femininity is all about.

Apart from Switzerland Silvo has lived in London, Sydney, New York, New Zealand, Israel and visited Egypt, Jordan and the Arabic Emirates several times, and also traveled through South East Asia, Europe a.o. countries. She has returned to Australia in August 2000. This portfolio is incomplete and does not document all her works.

Email: silvo7@mullum.com.au
Silvo's Art Studio
Industrial Estate
2/27 Brigantine
Byron Bay

or phone (+41)797168254