Reinterpreting rather than reproducing. The second edition of Malagasy Design Gaze highlights how Malagasy designers leverage local craftsmanship, materials, and objects to imagine new forms and uses. Held from September 19 to October 2 at the Orange Digital Center in Soarano, the exhibition brings together 11 designers under the theme “Re Dessin, Re Dessein” (Redesign, Repurpose). It features objects that are both contemplative and useful, telling stories while remaining functional.
The core of the approach lies in the dialogue with artisans. For this edition, several creators have integrated this collaboration directly into their design process by working with local workshops. The goal is to take existing techniques and materials and adapt them for new uses without dissociating them from the traditional gestures that shaped them. The work led by Georges Floret with artisans from Analakely illustrates this approach, where the artisanal object becomes a starting point for contemporary creation.
The theme “Re Dessin, Re Dessein” reflects a desire to look at what already exists from a different perspective. The two terms, historically linked to the ideas of project, intention, and representation, are here associated with the prefix “re-,” evoking both return and transformation. Heritage objects and techniques are not simply reproduced identically; they are diverted, adapted, or recomposed to change their function and perception. For curator Ihoby Rabarijhon, co-coordinated by Malalatiana Ravelomaniraka, this relationship between artisan and designer aims to foster the transmission of knowledge and evolve the perception of these traditional skills.
This second edition also highlights several emerging designers and their journeys beyond the exhibition. Prisca Razafindrakoto is participating in Paris Design Week, while Stéphanie Granit’Ix is expected in Italy from September 23 to 26 for the Marmomac fair. Miangaly Elia, a finalist in the Paritana competition, will present a solo off-site exhibition at Flow Gallery from September 26 to October 24.
Captured & Published at: 2026-09-21 16:53:34 (Madagascar Local Time EAT)
Original Source: https://www.2424.mg/foire-les-savoir-faire-locaux-reinterpretes-en-nouveaux-usages-avec-malagasy-design-gaze/