In the studio of Tsiriniaina Hajatiana Irimboangy

As a Malagasy artist, how do your cultural roots influence your artistic practice, particularly in the context of this exhibition Ridô – Unveiling Memories?

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. In the context of the exhibition Ridô – Unveiling Memories, I delve into a more personal dimension by reflecting on my roots through the memories of my grandparents’ home, where I spent the early years of my life. Through this project, which may initially seem very intimate, I broadly question the typical Malagasy home, which I see as bearing a strong cultural significance.

How has the residency at the Cité internationale des arts nurtured your artistic reflections, particularly regarding the exploration of memory and identity in your work?

The residency at the Cité internationale des arts has provided a space conducive to introspection, experimentation, and reflection on my memories of Madagascar. Having a dedicated space and time for experimentation has been essential in nurturing my work on memory. The geographical distance from Madagascar has also played a pivotal role: it became both a constraint and a source of creative stimulation. Being far away allowed me to approach my memories with a sense of detachment, not with the intent to recreate them exactly as they were, but to perceive them in a more poetic and sensitive way.

Can you tell us about the main themes you explore in your work and how you merge art and storytelling to engage the viewer?

The main themes I explore in my work are memories, heritage, transmission, and representation. These notions are at the heart of my artistic practice. I see myself as a visual storyteller, and in this sense, I often say that storytelling is my primary medium. Through my visual and textual productions, I aim to shed light on marginalized and invisible stories that I believe deserve to be highlighted. Through storytelling, I aspire to evoke emotions and preserve cultural aspects related 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.

What future projects do you envision as part of your artistic research, and how will these projects continue to address questions of memory and cultural identity?

Generally, my artistic projects follow a coherent continuity, always centered on the notion of Malagasy identity. My current residency at the Cité internationale des arts extends a body of work that I have been developing for several years. It is an ongoing project aimed at preserving and transmitting Malagasy cultural identity while experimenting with new artistic approaches. In the future, I intend to continue this research, particularly through fieldwork in Madagascar, to immerse myself more deeply in local cultural practices. I also wish to participate in longer international residencies that would provide a supportive environment for experimentation and reflection. Lastly, I plan to enrich my practice by further developing its textual and performative dimensions, exploring new forms of storytelling.