24 April – 17 October 2026
Fondation H, Antananarivo
“We are the alphabet that composes words, we are writings.” — M’barek Bouhchichi
Les mains des poètes is a solo exhibition by Moroccan artist M’barek Bouhchichi, curated by Hobisoa Raininoro. The project focuses on Madagascar as a context where oral and material knowledge systems remain closely linked.
The exhibition references Sorabe, a 15th-century Arabico-Malagasy writing system developed by the Antemoro community in southeastern Madagascar. Originally used to record religious texts, historical accounts, and knowledge in fields such as astrology and medicine, Sorabe reflects local practices of knowledge transmission prior to the introduction of the Latin alphabet in the 19th century.
In 2025, M’barek Bouhchichi carried out a six-week residency in Antananarivo. During this period, he worked through direct engagement with local artisans, including blacksmiths, ceramists, weavers, designers, and musicians. The production of the works is based on these collaborations and on field visits to workshops and urban spaces across Antananarivo and other regions.
The exhibition presents a series of new works produced between Madagascar and Morocco from August 2025 to March 2026.
