Défi entre Dieu et Andrianapolisy - 1997

186 X 38 X 18 cm
Wood, paint

L’homme solitaire. (Tokam-Bata) - 1999/2000

193 X 42 X 11 cm
Wood, paint

La guérison d’un malade - 1993

187 X 40 X 27 cm
Wood, paint

La vie du roi - No date

21 X 39 X 25 cm
Wood, paint

La vie est un combat – Haly am-bato ty Havelo tsy. Voka I ty tsiankitro - 1996

205 X 20 X 20 cm
Wood, paint

Le voleur de zebu. Vol Isolé. (Halatse kizo) - 1999/2000

235 X 76 X 20 cm
Wood, paint

Malaso ou Dahalo – Voleurs de boeufs - 1997

198 X 130 X 31 cm
Wood, paint

Nitsapan Anharety Andrianapolisy – L’esprit de la forêt soigne les maladies - 1997

213 X 65 X 21 cm
Wood, paint

On ne confie pas tous ses secrets à sa femme – Quatre touffes de cheveux ne se racontent pas à la femme – Tsoko – tsoko efatse tsy ambara valy - 1996

215 X 42 X 42 cm
Wood, paint

Raty ty Halatse - 1997

196 X 58 X 17 cm
Wood, paint

Scène de circoncision - 1994

190 X 25 X 20 cm
Wood, paint

Untitled - 1992

53 x 33 x 13 cm
Wood, paint

Jean-Jacques Efiaimbelo

C. 1925 - 2006, Androka, Mahafaly Land, Madagascar

Lived and worked in Androka, Madagascar.

Working in Southwestern Madagascar, Efiaimbelo is deeply rooted in the Mahafaly culture of his ancestors. The origins of the art and funerary rites of Mahafaly society go back to the early sixteenth century when the royal Maroserana clans settled in Mahafaly country. Their traditional art—funerary steles called aloalos that serve as grave markers at tomb sites—is considered the most prestigious of the island, and has been transmitted from father to son, since the times of Soroboka, a forbear of Efiaimbelo’s. Aloalos are planted in a square pattern around the three-dimensional rectangle of stones that makes up the tomb’s superstructure. They represent particular memories of the deceased for whom the aloalo was erected, as well as reminders of a particular era.

Efiaimbelo both honors and extends the ritual of the aloalos. One of the first sculptors to have painted aloalos for decorative purposes only, Efiaimbelo has also introduced acrylic colours and new imagery into the genre. Typical of the traditional aloalos, Efiaimbelo creates carved posts of hardwood (Mendorave), roughly seven feet in height. Depending on the different interpretations of the Mahafalaly myths and legends, varying meanings are given to the conventional motifs which decorate the support as well as to the figures on the tableaux on top. The lower part can be described as a succession of stacked figure eights (the number for abundance and a symbol for the full moon), which are alternately abstract and geometrical. On top of the post is a more representational scene, usually a zebu and his herdsman. (The zebu, humped cattle, are a symbol of wealth; a child is similarly a sign of prosperity). As a result of his deep ties to a Westerner who is inducted as Avisoa (The Welcome One) by Soroboka (Efiaimbelo’s forbear) into his Temaromainte clan, Efiaimbelo has modified the traditional tableaux: cattle thieves, bush-taxis, wrestlers, airplanes, motorcycles, tales of healing, fantastic legends, and personal anecdotes animate his repertory. Aloalos honour the dead, but also assert life. Through his sophistication and resourcefulness, Efiaimbelo has continued and developed this vital art.

SOLO EXHIBITION

2018

Aloalo "Mahafaly sculptures of the Efiaimbelos", Galerie Perrotin, Paris France

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2018

Madagascar, Arts de la Grande Île, Musée du Quai Branly Jacques Chirac, Paris, France

2012

Africa / Africa, Centre d’art contemporain, Meymac, France

2011

Art Paris, Just Art! Grand Palais, Paris, France

2010

African Stories

Marrakech Art Fair, Marrakech

2009 - 2010

Africa? Una nuova storia

Complesso del Vittoriano, Roma, Italy

2006

100% Africa

Guggenheim Museum

Bilbao, Spain

2005

Arts of Africa

Grimaldi Forum

Monaco - France

2005

African Art Now : Masterpieces from the Jean Pigozzi Collection

Museum of Fine Art Houston

Houston - USA

2004

Je m’installe aux abattoirs

La collection d’art contemporain d’agnès b.

Les Abattoirs

Toulouse, France

2003

Sculpture 2003

Ray Hughes Gallery

Sydney - Australia

1998

La Piste des Totems dans le cadre de la manifestion « Trésors d’Afrique »

Foire Internationale de Boredaux

MC2a

Bordeaux – France

Diadji Diop, Efiambelo, Alain Séchas

Galerie Perrotin, Paris

1994-1995

(travelling exhibition)

Otro país: escalas africanas

* November 15, 1994-January 15, 1995

Centro Atlántico de Arte Moderno

Las Palmas, Spain

* February 15-April 16, 1995

Fundacion La Caixa

Palma de Mallorca. Spain

* May-September, 1995

Palau de la Virreina

Barcelona, Spain

1993

La Grande VŽritŽ, les Astres Africains

Fine Arts Museum.

Nantes, France.

1992

Out of Africa

Saatchi Gallery.

London, Great Britain.

1991

Africa Hoy / Africa Now

Atlantic Center of Modern Art, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain.

Groningen Museum,

Groningen, Netherland.

Contemporary Art Cultural Center.

Mexico City, Mexico.

1989

Magiciens de la Terre

Georges Pompidou Center, Grande Halle de la Villette.

Paris, France.

SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY

2020

Contemporary African Art

Sidney Littlefield Kasfir

Collection World of Art (2nd Edition), Thames&Hudson, London

2006

100% Africa

Exhibition catalogue. Published by TF Editores & FMGB Guggenheim Bilbao Museum.

2005

African Art Now: Masterpieces from the Jean Pigozzi Collection

Exhibition catalogue. Published by Merrell.

2003

Otro país: escalas africanas

Exhibition catalogue by Simon Njami and Joëlle Busca.

2000

Madagascar -Memorial Arts, Efiaimbelo by Monica Blackmun Vison.

BookÝ: A History of Art in Africa. Text in English.

Edited by Prentice Hall & Abraams.

1996

"Contemporary Art of Africa ".

Efiaimbelo by Paul Rabibisoa Ravoy.

Edited by AndrŽ Magnin and Jacques Soulillou. Text in English.

Published by Harry N. Abraams.

1993

La Grande VŽritŽ, Les Astres Africains, Efiaimbelo by Paul Rabibisoa Ravoy

Edited by The Fine Arts Museum Nantes. Text in French.

1993

KUNSTFORUM AFRICA IWALEWA International (122)

Afrikanische Kunst heute book

Text by A. Magnin p.165, Efiaimbelo p.257 - p.258.

1989

"Magiciens de la Terre ". Efiaimbelo by Jacques Lombard.

Editions Georges Pompidou Center. Text in French.