Emergence of painting
The plastic arts in Mauritius are in their infancy. Figurative art in particular has developed relatively recently. Because of the Islamization of the island, the first traces of which date back to the 9th century, figurative art was not encouraged until the 20th century. It should be noted that fragments of 12th century pottery have been found in Acoua, on the funerary site of Antsiraka Boira. The motifs that decorate them attest to practices alien to Islam. Archaeological excavations are continuing to unravel this mystery.
Nowadays, the talents multiply. It is possible to discover them in workshops-museums or in more unexpected places. The artist Maféda presented her exhibition "The Lagoon in the Trees", a series of acrylic paintings on tarpaulin, at La Maison des Livres in Mamoudzou, after having hung them in the gardens of the governors of Dzaoudzi. According to her, the tarpaulin is made for the climate of Mayotte. Soula, an artist from Petite-Terre, exhibits in her studio in Labattoir; the dancer and painter Fatima Abassie wants to travel. Discover the rooms of the Tourism Committee, Bernard Dartois' workshop opposite the Maharajah hotel or the Cavani library. Numerous restaurants lend themselves to the game, and defend the creations of the Mahorais as well as visiting artists. The art gallery L'Arabesque in M'Tsapéré, run by Gil Renaud, has been organising the Mayotte painters' and sculptors' exhibition for the last ten years. It is the gallery to visit for those who wish to discover quality local art. Moreover, the gallery owner is also an artist-painter-illustrator.Marcel Séjour
An exhibition of the most famous artist of the Comoros has been organized in September 2021 by the Departmental Council of Mayotte. More generally, the painter likes to share his passion with the inhabitants. He exhibits as well at the Jumbo shopping centre as at the Mamoudzou town hall.
Marcel Séjour was born in 1948 in Angers. It was during a trip to Australia in 1980 that he became familiar with painting and drawing. Back in France, he registered for the English teaching competition and obtained a position in Mayotte. He never left. His attachment to the island is felt in each of his compositions. His favourite theme? The scenes of the daily life of Mayotte. Marcel paints to order and uses all formats. His large black and white canvases, punctuated with judicious coloured touches, are strikingly realistic. On others, one can feel the sunny tones of the Indian Ocean vibrating. Marcel Séjour paints only figurative motifs: portraits, animals, street scenes and still lifes, preferably with charcoal and oil paint. Don't hesitate to contact him, he welcomes you in his studio-gallery nestled in an alley of Cavani.Papajan and the street art wave
Diversity is encouraged by cultural policies. In Mayotte, as everywhere, urban art is booming and the traveller will not miss it. Calls for projects have been very successful and there is no doubt that talented graffiti artists will reveal themselves in the public space. In recent years, the Hip Hop Evolution association has embellished the staircases of Mamoudzou's neighbourhoods. This collaborative project has received support from the National Centre for Plastic Arts as well as the associations Stéréophonk and Street Art sans frontières. Before that, in 2014, one of the most emblematic: Jace's fresco at the Majicavo prison. Originally from Reunion Island, Jace stands out for his gouzous, his small faceless characters often staged in tenderly humorous situations.
A leading figure in the art of the streets of Mauritius, Papajan has been expressing himself on the walls of Cavani and elsewhere for two decades. Born to a Dutch father and a Zimbabwean mother, Papajan was seven years old when his family moved to Mayotte. At a very young age, he liked to surround himself with visual artists, poets and musicians. In 2001, the Rasta graffiti artist even created the "Utamaduni" association to facilitate access to art for as many people as possible. On the bowling green near the Cavani stadium, the artist has painted a maki playing petanque. Why a maki? To this question, he answers that "everyone can recognize himself in this animal, whether you are black, m'zungu or other". In spite of the difficulty of obtaining paint cans, Papajan has not finished brightening up the streets. And to make school..Sculpture
The woodwork here is at the crossroads of craft and art. The natural materials, skilfully carved, are also meaningful. In the small village of Iloni, at the end of a narrow street, lies the workshop of Conflit, "paradoxically traditional and atypical". This brilliant Mahoran, Bacari Mouhamadi by name, shapes different species of trees such as mango, bamboo, coconut, badamier and jackfruit. Under the name of Conflit, this young artist makes it his duty to pass on the traditions. To create his totem-inspired figures, he carves and assembles his natural materials using ancient instruments. In love with his native island, Conflit insists on the need to relay the values of Mayotte. As he likes to point out, the perfumed island is still a young culture. He willingly opens the door of his workshop in Iloni.
Maritime inspiration
To better understand the history of Mayotte, the MUMA - Musée de Mayotte de Petite-Terre offers an excellent overview of its facets. For lack of remains, the collection abundantly evokes the sea, and a little less the cultural exchanges. But what artist would not be inspired by the lagoon? Photographers are not mistaken. The turquoise expanse and the sea bed are inexhaustible subjects for them. The photographer Thierry Cron exhibited at the Orangery of the Senate in Paris images from his book Mayotte, l'âme d'une île (2020, Éditions des Autres.) A total immersion, through panoramas, scenes of life and local characters. Vie d'artisant is a young collective of photographers and painters from Mayotte. It was formed with the aim of making known the treasures of Mayotte by showing their achievements. To be followed closely!
