Last April, dozens of art world insiders from institutions, organizations and galleries – Momoa, Serpentine Gallery, V&A East and Goodman Gallery, to name just a few, were sent to Madagascar for the exhibition at the first major exhibition in Africa by Yinka Shonibare CBE RA. Organized by Favorite H in Madagascar, in partnership with Shonibare's guest artist Space (GAS) Foundation, “Safiotra [Hybridités/Hybridities]”The British Nigerian artist has worked in the Madagascar Contemporary Art Foundation in Antananarivo for nearly two decades.
Among the works of watching in self-planned programs are Aliens on the aircraft (2011), Refugee Astronaut X (2024) and African Library (2018), a huge installation with 6,000 books wrapped in African wax printed fabric. This particular work is in the permanent collection of Fondination H, focusing on the achievements of Africans, including Dr. Kwame Nkrumah and Nelson Mandela, as their role in the independence of African countries from colonial rule.
The show also has works from the Fondation H collection by nineteen artists from across Africa and its diaspora, including El Anatsui (Ghana), Billie Zangewa (Malawi), Zanele Muholi (South Africa), Sokey Edorh (Togo), Leilah Babirye (Uganda), Malika Agueznay (Morocco), Ibrahim Mahama (Ghana), Abdoulaye Konate (Mali) and Zoarinivo Razakaratrimo (Madagascar).
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In addition to marking a career milestone for Shonibare, the exhibition is a major moment in what local artist Joey Aresoa calls the “vibrant” Magascar art world. Aresoa is a poet and multidisciplinary self-taught artist who works in the media to explore the narrative, identity and life of women in Madagascar. Later this year, she will begin residency at the Natural Gas Foundation in Nigeria through a partnership with Fondation H. “I'm very happy,” Aresoa told Observer. “I’m excited to discover other techniques and narratives and have the opportunity to share ideas with other African artists.”
In Lagos, she plans to expand her job in 2023 Antsanganoinstalled aluminum eggs, which are a library of about 200 books that “need to be written” to tell the history of Madagascar. ((Antsangano Can be accessed through the application. ) She will use other resources, namely the Gas Library and Picton Archive, which contains 1,500 volumes collected over six decades, but she added that she is particularly looking forward to the “very personal and human” experience.
Aresoa's nonprofit Hodation H is the first private foundation for contemporary art in Madagascar. Founded by entrepreneur and art collector Hassanein Hiridjee, the foundation has been at the forefront of shaping the art ecosystem in a country where art schools are lacking and most artists are self-taught.
Director Margaux Huille told Observer that Fondation H showed off free exhibitions like “Safiotra”, such as “Safiotra,” which talks directly to Malagasy issues and offers dynamic shows that attracts about 15,000 monthly visitors, 80% of whom are under 25 years old. The foundation visits schools four times a week and runs hay-“Learning” Magascarians—a free program that includes tours and workshops for contemporary art discoveries, critical thinking and creative experiments for children aged 6 to 14.
“For all these young people, getting into the building and discovering what we are showing is an exciting experience,” Huille said. “We have seen kids change from their first visit and talk openly about topics they would never talk about on their first visit. We have seen them bring their parents in and be coaching on the weekend.”
The foundation also supports artists in Madagascar through residency, grants, training, committees and presentations to international institutions, organizations and galleries. One of Hondination H's early initiatives was the launch of Prix Paritana, a contemporary art award that supports Malagagascar artists living in the country and abroad. Three winners are selected every year. The highest awards include grants, residence (place of residence), including airplane fares, visas and daily authorization – exhibitions at Cité Internationale des Arts in Paris, as well as exhibitions at Fondation H’s Space and Madagascar Institut français de Madagascar. The two runners received grants and grants.
2021 champion Richianny Ratovo told Observer that the awards revolve around her career. “It's a great moment,” she said. Based in Antanarivo, Ratovo is a self-taught artist who mainly works in paint and mixing media, layered materials such as paper and wood, and combines styling and lithography. Ratovo, citing the lack of formal art schools in Madagascar, emphasized that Hondation H's support helped instill professionalism and confidence in her practice and the wider Madagascar art community.
Aresoa said the foundation is opening its doors to provide training, funding, international connections and visibility locally and abroad. Her upcoming residence at the Gas Foundation in Nigeria will be her first experience working outside the country.
While the art world in Madagascar may not develop like some of its African counterparts, it has an increasing amount of practice. The residence of the former colonial mayor is located in Antanarivo, where Musé dela Photographie de Madagascar was founded in 2013 and is committed to preserving the country's visual history. Its mission includes archive and digitization of more than 70,000 images taken in the country between 1860 and 1960. The main exhibition “EAU” is by exploring the history of Madagascar.
Founded in 2020 by entrepreneur Hasnaine Yavarhoussen and internationally recognized Malagasy artist Joël Andrianomearisoa, Hakanto contemporary has also shaped the artistic landscape of Madagascar. Andrianomearisoa, who serves as artistic director, curated several new projects this May at a renovated warehouse in Antananarivo, showcasing works by artists including Mirado Ravohitrarivo, Xhi sy M'aa, Mickaël Andrinirina, Felana Rajaonarivelo, Mbolatiana Raoilison, Emilie Andriamahefa, Richianny and Mat Li. A solo exhibition of Andrianomearisoa's own work, “Please sing my song before you set off,” closed in mid-May in a smaller nonprofit gallery.
Another notable venue is Flow Gallery, which is described on its website as “specially for contemporary art and design.” In April, observers visited its exhibition “Objects with the Soul,” a solo exhibition by interior designer Kiady Ratovoson, whose practice draws on his Madagascar heritage and study in Shanghai and Milan. His studio Kr. ATELIER focuses on wood products that support Matagascar craftsmanship and aims to promote local excellence in furniture design.
Although European influence has long shaped the aesthetics of Madagascar design, this has begun to change. Designers are increasingly exploring heritage materials and indigenous craft traditions. “They try to show this wealthy legacy [of] Multidisciplinary designer and researcher Domi Sanji told Observer. Sangi also manages Ndao Hanavo, an innovation and training laboratory for social design in Madagascar.
Sanji is also the founder of Tana Design Teek (TDW), which returned on June 28, 2025 that week. Now for the Biennale, TDW positioned itself as “the unforgettable design event in Madagascar” and presented fashion shows, exhibitions, exhibitions, masterclasses, conferences, conferences and mentored tours, including eight aisles including the Food Museum, including the Art Museum and Artag and Archeolosy and Instrucs arditut. TDW, which was originally staged in 2018, was originally a Sanji graduation project with a mission “showing that design is crucial to development.” Previous versions focused on craft excellence and encouraged designers to work with artisans using new technologies and materials.
Meanwhile, after her residence and research period in Madagascar in October this year, Fondination H is preparing to host a solo exhibition by Benin-French artist Roméo Mivekannin. The foundation is supporting the production of new works, which directly responds to the country's cultural context. “One of our biggest tasks is working with artists for a long time,” Huille said. “We are very driven by what humans have encountered and relationships. That's how we really want to work… we don't want to have relationships online. We care so much and want to continue to develop relationships, humans are humans to humans. It's important to us.”
