Artists on Africa

According to the world clock on my Apple Mac dashboard Antananarivo is found in Asia and not in Africa (Perhaps the Apple programmers reckoned Madagascar is located in the Indian Ocean; so there).

While Asian influence on the Malagasy genome, culture and habitat is undeniable (Apparently the Indonesians got to the island way before anyone else did), so is the imprint of the Bantu, Arabs and eventually Europeans. Madagascar is an inimitable melting pot; which geo-politically speaking is indeed African.

But 400 km can be a long way from the mainland and so you’ll be hard-pressed to find a Malagasy naturally referring to herself as African. (No excuse for the heirs of Steve Jobs though)

In this unusually short AOA episode (Don’t get used to it:), Tahina, Njaka and Taka deliberate (their) cultural identity (crises) from a Malagasy, African and global perspective.

In September 2014 Is’Art closed shop in Analakely, downtown Antananarivo, which had been its home since 2011 and where over 50 exhibitions have been hosted over just three and half years. Growing ambitions required a larger venue. Such was  found with some luck and the generous benefaction of Philippe and Delphine Andriantsitohaina who made available a now vacant launderette building, La Teinturerie.

Substantial renovations were necessary (as you will see in this video). But the real challenge was not to get the 200 square metre space and courtyard area ready in only three weeks for the official launch on the 3rd of October 2014. Rather it’s building and maintaining a meeting point for artistic collaboration in the land of Mora Mora – slow slow. Learn more by listening.

This episode features conversations with Is’Art‘s Tahina Rakotoarivony, Njaka Adrianintsoa, Taka Adrianavalona and Laza (RFC Festival Director).

Performances on opening night by Alea des Possibles Circus, Dance Companies Rary and Asary, music by Olombelo Ricky, Moajia and Angaroa.

The funky soundtrack for this episode comes from Social Fusion, a Malagasy musical collective, so says Njaka, in perpetual evolution.

Providing the soundtrack for both this episode and the launch night at La Teinturerie was famous Olombelo Ricky…

and long-term Is’Art associates Moajia.

AngAroA’s Dizina music video is a wonderful collaboration, shot at “La Teinturerie” and, yes, the familiar looking character is Tahina himself.

 

Useful Links

Is’Art Galerie Homepage

Is’Art on Facebook

Njaka’s Facebook Page

Taka’s Facebook Page

Moajia Youtube Channel

Angaroa Facebook Page

Social Fusion Website

Social Fusion Facebook Page

Olombelo Ricky Facebook Page

L’Alea des Possibles / Chapito Metisy

Compagnie Rary

Part 2 about Is’Art Galerie and the art scene in Madagascar looks at the local art infrastructure, or rather the lack thereof: About how, for instance, it is possible to study art mediation (basically promotion of the arts) at the university in Antananarivo but how there is not one formal art school in the country – not for Fine Art, nor Graphic Design, Photography or Film Studies. About how the Alliance Française is represented an astonishing 29 times with offices across the island and yet exhibition spaces for local art(ists) are scarce. And about how  when local contemporary artworks are bought at all it is by expatriates.

Hobisoa Raininoro from the Centre de Ressources des Arts Actuels de Madagascar located at the University of Antananarivo, Tahina Rakotoarivony of Is’Art Galerie, Njaka Andrianintsoa – illustrator, graphic designer and musician – and Taka Andrianavalona – artist and entrepreneur – speak about the realties of making art in a country that does not recognise its artists and what it takes to do it anyways.

 

Useful Links

Is’Art Galerie Homepage

Is’Art on Facebook

CRAAM – Centre de Ressources des Arts Actuels de Madagascar

Njaka’s Facebook Page

Njaka’s Band Moajia

Taka’s Facebook Page

Alliance Française in Madagascar

Goethe Institut in Madagascar

 

This episode was made possible with the support of

Is’Art Galerie is the first and still one of the only places dedicated to local contemporary art in Madagascar. Then called ISA Atelier Galerie was founded in 1998 by Richard Razafindrakoto et Rafalimanana Ndremo. When Tahina Rakotoarivony returned to Antananarivo in 2008 after spending four years in France, he took over the reigns from his uncle and teacher. ISA Atelier Galerie moved from Ankadifotsy to the more central neighbourhood of Analekely and became Is’Art Galerie. In 2014 Is’Art Galerie embarked on yet a new chapter in its 16 year old history and moved into an old dry cleaners factory – La Teinturerie. The new warehouse-like premises have already housed a number of exhibitions, screenings, workshops, discussions and events, international resident artists and an international urban art festival.

We will bring you the story of Is’Art and the ins and outs of the visual art world of Antananarivo in bite-size chunks, starting, where else, at the very beginning.

This is part 1. Stay tuned for more.

 

Useful Links

Is’Art Galerie Homepage

Is’Art on Facebook

CRAAM – Centre de Ressources des Arts Actuels de Madagascar

 

This episode was made possible with the support of

The long awaited second part of the conversation with Malagasy filmmaker, producer and RFC festival director Laza is finally here.

What does it mean to be a full-time artist in a country that does not legally recognise them (No, seriously, the concept of artist as a profession does not exist)? How do you sustain a film festival amidst ongoing political instability and make people want to fund your project? How does an Island Continent break through the Franco-Anglophone barrier? And most importantly, how to watch film and change mentalities and why you need a cinema for that. You get answers to all of that AND as a special treat and as previously promised, this episode also features a selection of film clips from the RFC archive.

Enjoy!

 

And for those who prefer, here is the is the audio-only version of the podcast:

Useful Links:

Rencontres du Film Court (RFC) – Short Film Festival

RFC on Facebook

Interfilm Berlin

The Pan African Federation of filmmakers FEPACI

RFI article on this year’s RFC Festival

Interview with Haminiaina Ratovoarivony at Cannes

 

This episode was made possible with the support of

Ten years ago nobody made movies in Madagascar. Then Malagasy filmmaker and producer Laza returned to Antanarivo and launched Rencontres du Film Court, an annual short film festival and series of workshops that has given rise to a new generation of young Malagasy filmmakers – Génération  RFC. Hundreds of fiction, documentary and animation films from this Indian Ocean island are now traveling the world and are changing the face of African cinema.

In preparation for the 10th anniversary edition of the festival in 2015, Laza reflects on how far Malagasy filmmaking has come since Raymond Rajaonarivelo’s Tabataba won a price at the Cannes Film Festival in 1988. (For those who missed it then, we have included a link to the movie below)

According to Laza, it is particularly in animation that today’s Génération RFC is finding a unique language to tell the many stories of Madagascar. We present this conversation to you in two parts. Stay tuned for part 2 for samples of some of these short films.

 

And for those who prefer, here is the is the audio-only version of the podcast:

 

We regret that we don’t have the capacity at this time to offer this podcast series with French subtitles.We are aware of the necessity and importance of doing so and would like to reassure our French speaking audience that plans to remedy this are afoot.

Nous regrettons de ne pouvoir actuellement offrir une version de notre série de podcasts sous-titrée en français. Dans un futur proche nous remédierons à cette lacune. 

 

 

Useful Links:

http://www.rencontresdufilmcourt.com

https://www.facebook.com/Rencontresdufilmcourt

http://rozifilms.com

 

Special thanks to Antoine Doyen for allowing us to use his beautiful photograph of Raymond Rajaonarivelo.

 

Raymond Rajaonarivelo’s “Tabataba” (Rumour)

 

This episode was made possible with the support of

Award-winning South African filmmaker Kurt Orderson is usually behind the camera. Turns out he is a natural on front of the camera too. So, we didn’t edit much, making the episode a little longer. But definitely worth it.

Breathe Again and The Prodigal Son are two of what Kurt refers to as his “home movies” – personal stories about his family; but stories too that are shared by the community he is so invested in. Screenings and teaching others how to make films – to become “citizen journalists” – are as important to him as making movies. El Dorado is one example of what can happen when people use the camera as “the new bazooka”. (We’ve included an excerpt scene below)

His latest is a film about the effects of gentrification, Not in my Neighbourhood.

 

 

“Eldorado” is about the journey taken by four friends in the poverty-stricken township of Eldorado Park. The film portrays their joys, pains, friendships and conflicts as they come to grips with the harsh realities of growing up in the area and the difficulties of moving on from the past. Taking a deeply intimate approach to film production, Eldorado was made and produced by residents of the area, who also star in the film. A celebration of the freedom and possibilities offered by digital filmmaking, this is an engaging and remarkable piece of cinema. Winner of the 32nd Durban International Film Festival 2011 Special Mention South African Feature Film.

 

And for those who prefer, here is the is the audio-only version of the podcast:

 

Useful Links:

http://azaniarizing.tumblr.com

https://www.facebook.com/kurt.orderson?fref=ts

http://www.afi.com/silver/films/2013/v10i1/naff2013.aspx

This episode was made possible with the support of

Mauro Pinto said it: “Everything is a Story”. And as far as the conversation with Mauro and Goncalo goes, we have only told you half.

So we decided to break with our monthly schedule to bring you a bonus episode: Goncalo and Mauro share some of their (more personal) stories about language and learning and tales of traveling.

 

This episode was made possible with the support of

This month we stay in Maputo and meet photographer, Mauro Pinto, and sculptor, Goncalo Mabunda.

Born in the year of the Mozambican Independence (or in the case of Mauro the year just before that) and raised in the decades of the Civil War that followed, these two friends and collaborators share their thoughts on what’s really worth investing in.

 

Useful Links

https://goo.gl/maps/Da89L

https://www.facebook.com/pintomau?fref=ts

https://www.facebook.com/goncalo.mabunda?fref=ts

https://www.facebook.com/nucleodarte?fref=ts

http://www.ccfmoz.com

 

This episode was made possible with the support of

A good friend of mine does not visit Maputo for less than 10 days at a time and I now know why. The city is vibrant and that not just in the wake of the upcoming elections on the 15th of October. Five fast and full days cannot be collapsed into one episode, so we will bring you more of Maputo’s artistic establishment next month.

First up is Melita Matsinhe – pianist, vocalist, song writer, poet, historian and Pan-Africanist – backed by Mozambique’s musical luminary, Stewart Sukuma.

The attentive sculptures in the background are, of course, by Reinata Sadimba and for the full 9 ½ minutes of the soundtrack visit Melita’s myspace page.

 

Useful Links

https://goo.gl/maps/uTwZE

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Melita-Matsinhe-Band/166043596757800

http://myspace.com/melita-matsinhe

http://nyabetse-tatinguwaku.blogspot.com

https://www.facebook.com/stewart.sukuma?fref=ts

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Gil-Vicente-Café-Bar/152435114818877

This episode was made possible with the support of