Biography
Born in Beirut, Lebanon, Hiba Kalache is an interdisciplinary artist whose intricate drawings and sculptural works seek to explore collective and personal memory, and the effects of conflict and trauma on society. In the artist’s words, “I make art as a response to my immediate surroundings, as an urge and attempt to navigate its layers and complexities.” Her unique style leads the viewer to look beyond the intricate patterns of her paper works – characterized by splashes of ink and colour – to consider the chaos that lies beneath the surface. Her drawing series “The Impermanence of States” presents a complex cartography that reflects destruction wrought by the local political scene in the artist’s native Beirut – here the tragic effects of car bomb. By contrast, her sculptural works consider quotidian acts, or as she says, “the banality of daily rituals,” inviting a reflection on the private sphere. Kalache received her MFA in San Francisco and has since exhibited in Beirut, Istanbul, Berlin, Brussels, New Orleans, San Jose, Oakland and San Francisco. Her work has also been shown at art fairs including Art Dubai, Drawing Now (Paris) and Gwangju Art (South Korea).
Artwork
