In the studio with Tsiriniaina Hajatiana Irimboangy

As a Malagasy artist, my cultural roots play a central role in my work. My projects constantly explore my Malagasy identity and various aspects of Malagasy culture. As part of the exhibition Ridô – Dévoiler les souvenirs, I am exploring a more personal dimension, examining my roots through memories of my grandparents’ house, where I spent the early years of my life. Through this project, which may seem very intimate at first glance, I am examining the typical Malagasy home more broadly, which I believe carries a strong cultural significance.

My residency at the Cité internationale des arts provided me with an environment conducive to introspection, experimentation and reflection on my memories of Madagascar. Having a dedicated space and the time to experiment was essential in developing my work on memory. The physical distance from Madagascar also played a central role: it became both a constraint and a source of creative inspiration. Being far away allowed me to approach my memories with a detached perspective, not with the aim of recreating them exactly as they were, but of understanding them in a more poetic and sensitive way.

The main themes I explore in my work are: memories, memory, heritage, transmission and the question of representation. These concepts lie at the heart of my artistic practice. I consider myself a visual storyteller and, in that sense, I often say that storytelling is my primary medium. Through my visual and textual works, I am committed to telling these marginalised and overlooked stories, which, in my view, deserve to be brought to light. Through storytelling, I aim to convey emotions and preserve cultural aspects linked to Madagascar. My work also incorporates an archival dimension, particularly through my family archives, where I sometimes see myself as the historian of my own family.

Generally speaking, my artistic projects form part of a coherent continuum, always centred on the concept of Malagasy identity. My current residency at the Cité internationale des arts is a continuation of work I began several years ago. It is an ever-evolving project that aims to preserve and pass on Malagasy cultural identity whilst experimenting with new artistic approaches. In the future, I hope to continue this research, particularly in the field in Madagascar, in order to immerse myself further in local cultural practices. I would also like to take part in longer international residencies, which would provide a setting conducive to experimentation and reflection. Finally, I intend to enrich my practice by developing the textual and performance dimensions, to explore new forms of storytelling.