Madagascan Artist Joël Andrianomearisoa Has Quietly Honed His Practice for Decades. Why Is He Suddenly Everywhere?
The artist's eclectic practice ranges from text art to textiles.
Two years ago, the Madagascar-born artist Joël Andrianomearisoa was invited to create a work for the opening of the Kunsthalle in Prague.
“The commission was to create a huge neon on the facade. I decided to make it in Malagasy—” his mother tongue—“so no one understands,” he said. “It was a kind of a big enigma on the facade of the museum.”
Was it a prank? A provocation? Not according to Andrianomearisoa. ”I’m convinced that the power of language is not just a text, not just an aesthetic element, but also the meaning. And sometimes it’s better not to understand.”
Article By: Julie Baumgardner
