Friday , 29 March 2024
enfrit
Only a few weeks earlier, these photographs were part of the current events. Today, they are part of history, vividly depicting the painful wounds of a nation...

“Roadblocks” – Arrangements in black and white

A Malagasy saying, “The past is something you do not forget”, expresses everything.
This series of black and white snapshots, exhibited as “Barrages”, or “Roadblocks”, is a living testimony to an unprecedented historical episode in Madagascar’s history.
It commemorates critical crossroads leading to the nation’s future.

Twenty original black and white photographs, printed on huge 180 by 135 centimeter canvas sheets, up to now unpublished for exhibition in Madagascar, came directly through the viewfinders of eight image chasers (Maksim Seth, Francis Rasoamaharo, Fidisoa Ramanahadray, Seta Ramaroson, Pierrot Men, Martin Rajaoferson, Nary Ravonjy, and Kiaja Ramamonjisoa).

These snapshots depict various facets of Madagascar’s latest political crisis: anti-economic roadblocks, security roadblocks, along with their consequences; blown up bridges, as well as the ensuing feeling of helplessness, disarray.
They also depict the patience and the suffering of an innocent people, caught in the crossfire, between the political ambitions of two factions which faced one another during the events which disrupted, for almost six months, the peace which, up to then, the Great Island was well known for.

Through these photographs, the organizers, as well as the photographers are trying to show the world their contribution to the reinforcement of Madagascar’s cultural identity.
It is their way of saying that pictures can educate and change attitudes… in other words, informing the public on current events is only the tip of the iceberg in photojournalism.

The exhibit is coordinated by Daniel “Dany Be” Rakotoseheno, and Maksim Seth, two big names in the Malagasy photographic scene, in collaboration with the city of St. Denis de La Reunion, the Indian Ocean Research Association, and Reunion Island’s Regional Drama Center.

These photographs were unveiled for the first time in St. Denis de La Reunion, at the Open Market Theater, for about one month.
They were subsequently exhibited at Antananarivo’s Germano-Malagasy Circle for ten days, during which the majority of some 20,000 visitors were able to express their great satisfaction.
A family man objected, “Too bad the GMC was rather small for images of such dimension, and magnitude.”
These “Roadblock” snapshots are currently on their way to Europe where the tour will start in Limoges (September 24, through October 6, during the “Francophonic Community Festival”).
Next, they will go to Paris, but the organizers are still negotiating, and no dates have been mentioned.
In all likelihood, Germany will be on the schedule for next year.
No matter what happens, Maksim Seth promised us that future exhibitions will include additional images.

An obviously moved, and distraught student reflected, “For photographs taken in Madagascar, by Malagasy photographers, it is somewhat troublesome to know that they were first seen by Reunionese, before us, the ones to whom they pertain the most…”
Philosophically, in typical Malagasy fashion, he added, “But it is understandable, since the country has only, just recently, come out of the crisis.
Now, all we can hope for is that, following the French tour, these masterpieces, which commemorate one of the Great Island’s most memorable episodes, will permanently return home, to take their rightful place among Madagascar’s historical treasures.”

Translated by J. F. Razanamiadana