Malala Andrialavidrazana

ECHOES (from Indian Ocean)
2011-2013

“ECHOES” explores the intimacy of middle classes in urban areas from the Indian Ocean. More precisely, it explores the opposition between private spheres and public’s outdoors. In this series, Malala Andrialavidrazana is trying to develop new connexions between architectural structures and aesthetic and sociocultural patterns, going beyond usual clichés.

The Indian Ocean, which represents about 75 millions of square kilometers between Africa, Asia and Australia, evokes – most of the times – fantasized visions of exotic dreams, with its share of poverties that would not be acceptable in our western societies. Far away from these platitudes, the photographer is driven by the diversity of Indian Ocean communities and how identities are expressed in a world of mass communication and where uniformity seems more and more to leave its mark on people. She enters in private interiors, the closest to the multiple local realities, and shows us the different facets of these territories. Thus, she consigns postal cards to their own status.

Through her infinite and protean researches – that impose no stereotypes on us – Malala Andrialavidrazana is presenting us day-to-day atmospheres, still-lives and fragmented portraits with elegance and subtlety. She drags us to the encounter of a group of population unknown out of its own frontiers, which is soberly fighting for a honourable social status. They are very much aware of the cultures – local or introduced a long time ago or even recently – that are the basis of their current identity.

Indeed, human exchanges are diverse throughout the countries that surround the Indian Ocean, and influences are numerous. From Antananarivo to Mumbai, from Durban to Reunion, people have created bonds through history, time, family and friendly relationship, or even consumption and construction habits. These bonds reflect each other and are more than simple cosmopolitan aspects. They give both a unity and a dignity to these people, mainly from middle class backgrounds, which had remained quiet until now.

SELECTION OF EXHIBITION DISPLAYS

PRESS