ANTANANARIVO
AUGUST 5 - OCTOBER 29, 2021
Fondation H - Antananarivo have invited visual artist VeloAry and designer-stylist Maromaitso to their exhibition space from August 5, 2021, to co-produce a series of installations, works and performances developed in situ. From September 9 to October 29, 2021, the artists present the exhibition Les Descendants de Rapeto et Rasoalao, the outcome of their creative residency.
The exhibition is inspired by the popular Malagasy tale of Rapeto, a giant who wanted to catch the moon to give it to his children. In consultation with young author Ando Harinjaka, the artists offer a new version of Rapeto's tale, Les descendants de Rapeto et Rasoalao [see full story at bottom of page]. They give new coherence to the archetypes of this tale from the Malagasy oral tradition, bringing out the universal themes radiating from the story. Once this textual foundation has been set, they make it their own and revisit traditional techniques such as textiles, to transcend shapes and volumes. The tale becomes matter within space. This artistic foray brings together seven minidresses representing Rapeto and Rasoalao’s descendants as lampshades adorned with petakofehy [embroidery] and petadambamaneho Kisary [patterned patchwork]. The exhibition is completed by a huge,dreamlike installation showing Rapeto and his moon, as well as four fafanjaitra [textile paintings] in volume.
Ariry Andriamoratsiresy, aka Maromaitso, was born in 1968 in Madagascar. A dancer-choreographer, he lives and works in Antananarivo. This major artist of the Malagasy contemporary dance scene began his career in 1990 and has enriched his career through collaborations with such famous names as Théo Ranjivason(Madagascar), Ramparany Saraela (Madagascar), Bakomanga (Madagascar), Yun Chan (Reunion), Alphonse Tiérou (France), Claude Brumachon (France), and Benjamin Lamarche (France). In 1996, he founded Rary, his dance and music school in Antananarivo and became the leader of Compagnie Rary. From 2005, aside from his work as a dancer-choreographer, Ariry Andriamoratsires has exhibited his textile creations under the name Maromaitso. He created a line of clothes with an approach that was more cultural than commercial. Since 2008, Maromaitso has been organizing the Takalo Haingo festival in Antananarivo, a showcase and lab for creativity and Malagasy clothing design.
Nomenjanahary Dimbiniainarivelo, aka VeloAry, was born in 1986 in Madagascar. A visual artist, he lives and works in Antananarivo. In his artistic practice, he favors media such as fabric, iron and natural materials (zebu horns, silk, raffia, wood bark, etc.). In 2006, he launched his career as a designer at a fashion show at the Tahala Rarihasina, a cultural center founded by the Malagasy academy in Antananarivo. His philosophy of thought is evident through his artist name: VeloAry means velona ary ny maty sy ny tokony ho fanary [Giving life to what has to be thrown away]. Also a poet, author, musician and performer, VeloAry is often inspired by his own tales and poems, as well as Malagasy ancestral values, silence and nature. Upcycling is significant in his collections, such as Collection Fahefan'nytany [The Power of the Earth], 2006 and Collection Rekiopereo [Do upcycle], 2014. VeloAry’s textile pieces are usually adorned with Petadamba [embroidery made with scraps of fabric, old jeans, soga…] and tokotokoraha [decorative, recycled elements].