A group exhibition

A declaration of love in its many shades and nuances

Featuring 26 artists from Madagascar

Harivola Rakotondrasoa · Mat Li · Vonjiniaina · Michèle Rakotoson · Ndao Hanavao · Emile Ralambo · MiMada · Fenosoa Rahajamalala · Jean Andrianaivo Ravelona · Viviane Rakotoarivony · Zahra Rabeharisoa · Fela Razafiarison · Alizé · Malala Andrialavidrazana · Rina Ralay-Ranaivo · Ketaka Razafimisa · Philippe Gaubert · Rijasolo · Maurice Ramarozaka · Ludonie Velotrasina · Samoëla · Joan Paoly · Serge Henri Rodin · Môta Soa · Zoly Rakotoniera · Antoine Ratrena

Ny fitiavanay

Our love

Notre amour

Ry Tanindrazanay malala ô !

Ry Madagasikara soa,

Ny fitiavanay anao tsy miala,

Fa ho anao ho anao doria tokoa.

Oh our cherished country!

Oh beautiful Madagascar,

Our love for you remains,

And will remain forever.

Following the tradition of nearly two years of exhibitions at Hakanto Contemporary,

we systematically question context, history and our present, and allude to the future.

For this new opus, while not turning our back on custom, our message revolves around the idea

of nation – country – land.

And that past – present – future continues to set the tempo for this new musicality.

The land

We often speak of this red land, this scrap of country off a continent's coast, out in the ocean, far from the world's shore.

We.

We from the great ocean, as Serge Henri Rodin so appropriately insists.

Madagascar.

Surrounded by sea and still a great mystery.

Statement? Questioning? Love? Distance? Independence?

The idea is not to provide answers, but rather to form an emotional observation using multidisciplinary formulae.

Actions in black and white leading to the assertion of a colourless flag.

Hearts torn to enable the ink of hope to pour out.

A song of love springing from religious effluvia.

Or possibly a family dish transformed into fireworks from the height of our pain.

There are various answers. Some lie in dialogue and some in confrontation, but also in tension.

Act of love Ny fitiavanay

So here is a multiply-nuanced declaration of love from 26 Madagascan artists to their dear land.

26 referring to 60.

26 artists.

60 years of independence.

How can we make the present with this anniversary? How can we break down history?

Or reshape histories? And how can we tell the story of the future?

Reshape one's history,

Rewrite one's memory,

Slip anchors,

Change one's roots,

And build, build, again and forever.

- Michèle Rakotoson

Ny tena sy fo fanahy anananay

Our body, our heart and our soul

An echoing melody that allows hearts and souls to speak with boundless freedom.

Yes, let us speak, for it is time.

Joël Andrianomearisoa

September 2021

Ry Tanindrazanay malala ô (Oh Our Cherished Country / Oh Land of our beloved ancestors) has been Madagascar's national anthem since 1958.

Lyrics . Pastor Rahajason

Music . Norbert Raharisoa