Hinga at Hangin’: Experience this Blue Sky Arts installation at Calgary’s Central Library
Calgary’s story is being told with five immersive art pieces by local artists, including Hinga at Hangin’ by artist collective, Indioz Bravoz.
Hinga at Hangin’ at Calgary’s Central Library (Credit: James Young/Tourism Calgary)
Filipino for breath and wind, Hinga at Hangin’ calls you to take a moment to pause, breathe and connect.
Inspired by the Baybayin character “ha” and the Filipino folklore around the Balete tree (Ficus Microcarpa), the piece is a powerful addition to the Blue Sky Arts program, combining traditional Filipino crochet with bade created from wood, foam, and plaster to a swirling, cloud-like form. Inside the sculpture, visitors are surrounded by imagery recalling traditional and modern motifs, offering a moment to reflect on the assimilation of culture amongst the hustling city’s pulse.
“As artists who’ve both found ourselves in Calgary during transformative chapters of our lives, ‘Blue Sky City’ is more than a place: it’s a symbol of possibility,” said Indioz Bravoz artists Harvey Nichols and Mar Cortez. “The vast skies of Calgary have witnessed our personal evolutions, holding space for grief, healing, and creative reawakening.
The language around Blue Sky City reminded us of the duality between stillness and movement of wind, of spirit, of change. Interacting with Hinga at Hangin’ is meant to feel like stepping into a moment suspended between worlds. There’s a tactile, sensory presence to it like standing near an ancient tree and feeling the wind whisper through its leaves. It invites viewers to breathe, to pause, and to sense something more than what’s immediately visible.”
Hinga at Hangin’ is able to be experienced at Calgary’s Central Library until the end of January.
Blue Sky Arts is an invitation to the community to explore Calgary’s Blue Sky City through the eyes of local artists, representing the diversity of experiences and voices in our city. This one-of-a-kind experiential art project is an initiative by Tourism Calgary in partnership with Calgary Arts
Development and RiseUp, bring the Blue Sky City brand to life in vivid, interactive ways that spark curiosity and encourage participants to see and explore the city through a new lens.
"This partnership with Blue Sky Arts shows how Calgary Public Library continues to deliver as a creative space for connection and storytelling through collaboration," says Sarah Meilleur, CEO, Calgary Public Library. "Central Library is a destination for more than 1.1 million people each year and this community storytelling exhibit with Tourism Calgary creates a dedicated space in the heart of downtown for sharing stories and amplifying diverse perspectives and experiences."
The program features five interactive, thought-provoking art pieces that are more than just photo-worthy pieces in iconic Calgary locations; they encourage curious participation, connection with new friends, and they are an opportunity to rediscover our Blue Sky City. With many new people moving to Calgary every year, this initiative provides a great initial point of engagement to Calgary’s story as a diverse and vibrant community and encourages people to explore more of what our city has to offer.