Drawing lies at the heart of Roberto Fabelo’s art. His drawings reveal particularly clearly the possibilities that emerge when the boundaries between human, animal and fantasy are allowed to dissolve. His intricate networks of line allow bodies to mutate, multiply and acquire unexpected attributes, while apparently simple compositions can conceal a wealth of detail.

As in his paintings, the female figure is a recurring presence. Fabelo’s women are often voluptuous, naked or partially clothed, but are rarely conventional representations of the human body. Breasts become exaggerated anatomical forms, heads acquire beaks or sprout wings, hair transforms into a mass of birds, and human figures merge with creatures whose identities remain deliberately ambiguous.

Fabelo’s extraordinary command of line is most evident in the simpler drawings. A few economical strokes can suggest a body, while dense cross-hatching gives weight and substance to more elaborate figures. His drawing can become almost obsessively detailed, with every feather, fold of flesh or strand of hair contributing to an improbable vision. His celebrated skill as a draughtsman has brought Fabelo numerous international awards, including the Armando Reverón International Drawing Prize at the first Havana Biennial in 1984.