Photo: Maria Klenner

Bernard Hage, commonly known as “The Art of Boo”, is an illustrator, writer, musician and cartoonist who struggled with writing his own biography while referring to himself in the third person.
 
He was born at a very young age and grew up in a small and boring town, which had no electricity, infrastructure, or girls. Bernard received his education at an accessible private school, where highly experienced tutors greatly contributed to corrupting his sense of creativity. During his early years, he succeeded in getting himself into undesirable situations, which helped nurture his childhood traumas, and was credited by renowned bullies for always being in the wrong place at the right time. He also excelled in getting friend-zoned countless of times and has been hailed as a “brilliant listener”.

Bernard chose a career in advertising that eradicated his ethics and not-so-social life simultaneously, so he quit his job in 2012. After surviving a profound existential crisis, he hosted his first solo exhibition, “Undressed – Society’s Reflection in Its Brands” at Artlab gallery, Beirut, in 2014. He then published his first book of illustrated short stories and an original music soundtrack titled “In the Dead of Night – Bedtime Stories for Grown Ups” in 2017. His father missed both events.
​
His recent book, “Anatomy of A Hummus Plate”, published by ‘Les Editions L’Orient Le Jour’ in April 2021, is a compilation of social and political cartoons that serves as an introduction to Lebanese society. A satirical documentation of Lebanon’s descent into hell, from 2019 until 2021. Launched in Beirut, the book received horrible reviews, most of which originated from furious vegans who were misled by the title and thought the content was no laughing matter.
 
In his spare time, Bernard composes music on his piano, labeled as “neo-experimental-medium-rare-Indie” by his intellectual middle-aged divorced neighbor, with whom Bernard agrees. Recently, his music became more appreciated among the other neighbors, as it turned out it drives burglars and bandits away. His records are mostly played on weekends, in lieu of a security system when the neighbors leave for their mountain retreat.

Bernard is known best for his cartoons. He’s published weekly with L’Orient Le Jour since 2018, the French language Lebanese daily that offered him an insane amount of exposure in return for his drawings. His work has been hailed by regional and international media, popular blogs and his mother.
 
Currently Bernard resides in Berlin, alone. He believes that leading a single life gives him more time to concentrate on his work. He also made a commitment to his friends to stop using this excuse as soon as he finds the one. Anyone.
​