Cotton, linen, raffia, silk, sisal fibers, and many other materials intersect, hang, and unfold over several meters. This is the new installation by Joël Andrianomearisoa, exhibited at the Grandes Locos space in Lyon as part of the 18th Lyon Biennale of Contemporary Art, which runs from Friday until December 13, 2026.
Sometimes thin and almost immaterial, sometimes thick, frayed, or knotted, the materials assembled by the Malagasy artist invite viewers to see the rope as more than just an object. In this work, the rope becomes a medium capable of carrying stories, places, and memories. In “tady mitady tadidy” (rope seeking memory), it “searches for its own memories.”
For the theme of the 18th Lyon Biennale, “to pass from one dream to another,” Joël Andrianomearisoa has brought together materials and fibers from diverse horizons in a single work, telling each other stories of the places they have traveled through, as well as their uses and craftsmanship. These include Antananarivo, of course, but also Paris, New York, Montreal, Jaipur, Bamako, Berlin, Beirut, Brussels, Cape Town, Dakar, Buenos Aires, Istanbul, London, Madrid, Venice, Tokyo, and many others. Knotted together, they become a rope that connects spaces and temporalities, evoking artisanal gestures, encounters, or memories, while awakening emotions and experiences.
Created in 1991, the Lyon Biennale of Contemporary Art is one of the leading events dedicated to contemporary art in France. For its 18th edition, it brings together 119 artists of 42 nationalities, affirming its openness to a great diversity of practices, generations, and artistic territories. 68% of the artists are women, and 23% are under 35. Spanning several locations across the Lyon metropolitan area, the event attracts 300,000 visitors each edition.
Captured & Published at: 2026-09-21 08:09:23 (Madagascar Local Time EAT)
Original Source: https://www.2424.mg/culture-joel-andrianomearisoa-fait-parler-les-cordes-et-leurs-memoires-a-la-biennale-dart-contemporain-de-lyon/