Noire Gallery presents for the first time in Italy an exhibition by Hiba Schahbaz.
In Memory is a selection of miniature paintings ,depicting semi-autobiographical spaces and scenarios. Hiba Schahbaz creates tableaus of her self and loved ones using imagery inspired by Eastern culture and Western illustration. In these works, imagination fuses with personal and geographical history to explore a multicultural identity.
”In my recent works, I am investigating issues of self-identification within the lexicon of miniature painting, and in the process, re-contextualizing miniature painting in contemporary art. This body of work begins with the exploration of self-portraiture through paintings of myself, my family members, and loved ones. In these works, I strive to find a balance between personal content and accessible imagery. Resemblance is veiled by indirect representation, as I attempt to reflect myself in the faces of others.
My work is gradually developing into larger and more complex paintings, infused with personal narratives and ever-changing fantastical landscapes. Although rooted in traditional miniature, the content is derived from my personal relationship with my surroundings. By observing the symbolism and iconography of the cultures around me, I construct imagery that fuses the real with the imagined ”.
