KK Bicalho. In & Out

KK Bicalho. In & Out

Curated by Katherine Chacón.

In alliance with:

In & Out. KK Bicalho

Although characterized by a radically direct language, constructed through paper tiny cut-out silhouettes, the pieces gathered in this exhibition focus on what KK Bicalho (Belo Horizonte, 1989) calls “spatial solutions”.

The interplay among artistic, represented, and physical realities has been a consistent theme throughout the artist’s career. However, in this collection, Bicalho accentuates these tensions by employing an almost trivial element: the frame. The artist delves into the essence of the pictorial art, recognizing the frame’s role as a veduta, delineating a physical boundary between artistic fiction and reality, while also affirming a representational truth. She underscores the frame’s objectivity by strategically placing figures, strokes, and stains not only within and beyond its confines, but also along its edges, across various depths, and, for the first time, within two layers of the front glass. She also experiments with PVC to replicate paint stains.

Bicalho employs a strategy of reversibility where a simple representation playfully merges with reality, resonating with our sensibilities like a potent message. The allure of these pieces arises from their clever playfulness, as well as the delicate manual process used to create them, and the transparent poetry conveyed through their themes.

Katherine Chacón

KK Bicalho (Belo Horizonte, Brazil, 1989)

She graduated in Fine Arts and Art Education from Escola Guignard/UEMG in her hometown. Her interest in cut-out shapes began casually while drawing silhouettes, leading her to experiment with tracing lines using scissors. Shortly after, she began developing her series of small cut-out figures titled Minuances, which she defined as a dialogue “with the human figure in a quiet and observant way.” She has participated in several group exhibitions in Brazil, notable among them: “Art as Human Value” (BAG Art Gallery, Houston, 2023), “Aguas de Benzer” (Pupa Galeria de Artes Manuais, Nova Lima, 2023), “Coletivarte” (Galeria de Artes da Cemig, Belo Horizonte, 2023), and “Brasilianidades” (Patio & Arts Design, Belo Horizonte, 2022). In 2023, she presented two important solo shows: “Simple” at BAG Art Gallery—online exhibit, and “Recorte” at Pupa Galeria de Artes Manuais.