During an artist residency in Karachi (Pakistan), Italian artist Elisa Caldana became fascinated by the laggar falcon. The Falcon of Karachi project pays tribute to this majestic bird of prey, which had been largely invisible in historical tradition. The tapestries play with the patterns of the falcon's plumage. By varying the density of the fabric, the pattern appears to run from the centre out to the edges.
During an artist residency in Karachi (Pakistan), Italian artist Elisa Caldana became fascinated by the laggar falcon. The Falcon of Karachi project pays tribute to this majestic bird of prey, which had been largely invisible in historical tradition. The falcon was once common in Pakistan, India and Myanmar but is now threatened with extinction. The complete series was shown in Caldana’s solo exhibition in West Den Haag, which included two tapestries developed in the TextielLab.
The tapestries play with the patterns of the falcon’s plumage. The imposing black and white tapestry, which measures 180 x 250 cm, is woven from linen, organic cotton and viscose. By varying the density of the fabric, the pattern appears to run from the centre out to the edges. The smaller tapestry was initially made as a test to experiment with unprogrammed colour changes. Through on-the-spot improvisation, a unique work made of linen, organic cotton, Elirex and recycled polyester emerged. Both tapestries have since been acquired by MACTE—Museo di Arte Contemporanea di Termoli in Italy, where they were on display in 2025 as part of Caldana’s next solo exhibition.
Elisa Caldana (born 4 March 1986 in Pordenone) is an Italian artist based in the Netherlands. she works primarily with sculpture, installation, performance, film and writing. She graduated from the Hochschule für Bildende Künste–Städelschule, Frankfurt am Main (2010–2013) and from the IUAV University of Venice, Italy (2009–2011). Architecture, public spaces, monuments, and collective identity are recurrent themes within her work.
'The Falcon of Karachi', West Den Haag, The Hague, 16 February - 26 Mei 2024
