British-Nigerian artist Yinka Shonibare CBE RA to open Safiotra [Hybridities/Hybridités] at Fondation H
his first major showcase on the African continent.
The solo exhibition features artwork spanning 20 years of Shonibare’s career, including The African Library (2018), part of Fondation H’s permanent collection. This monumental installation comprises 6,000 books wrapped in Dutch wax print fabric, each embossed with the name of a personality who shaped postcolonial Africa. The installation is complemented by a digital interface providing historical and biographical information about these figures.
The exhibition also presents a series of iconic sculptures by Yinka Shonibare, such as Refugee Astronaut X (2024), created by the artist in the context of Madagascar. It further includes works from his series Hydrid Mask and Hybrid Sculpture, three Decolonized Structures from Yinka Shonibare’s 2024 solo show at the Serpentine (London), and earlier works like Alien Man on Flying Machine (2011) and Alien Woman on Flying Machine (2011).
Safiotra [Hybridities/Hybridités] is enriched by a curated selection from the Fondation H collection, chosen by Shonibare. This complementary exhibition features works by 25 artists, including Kelani Abass (Nigeria), Malika Agueznay (Morocco), Amina Agueznay (Morocco), El Anatsui (Ghana), Leilah Babirye (Uganda), Virginia Chihota (Zimbabwe), Safaa Erruas (Morocco), Jems Koko Bi (Côte d’Ivoire), Abdoulaye Konaté (Mali), Ibrahim Mahama (Ghana), Zanele Muholi (South Africa), Yaw Owusu (Ghana), Elias Sime (Ethiopia), Ouattara Watts (Côte d’Ivoire/USA), and Madame Zo (Madagascar). The curated dialogue explores the construction of African history post-independence.
The Malagasy word “safiotra” conveys the idea of hybridization—a fusion of two elements or identities that create a new entity while preserving their distinct characteristics. When applied to humans, it denotes a person of mixed heritage who integrates elements of both origins without being confined to either. This concept extends to objects, ideas, or concepts born from the convergence of contrasting realities.
Yinka Shonibare Safiotra [Hybridities/Hybridités] April 11, 2025 – February 28, 2026 Fondation H, Antananarivo, Madagascar
About
Yinka Shonibare CBE RA (b. 1962) in London, UK, studied Fine Art at Byam Shaw School of Art, London (1989) and received his MFA from Goldsmiths, University of London (1991). His interdisciplinary practice uses citations of Western art history and literature to question the validity of contemporary cultural and national identities within the context of globalisation. In 2024, the Serpentine, London, UK, presented a solo exhibition of works in their Serpentine South gallery titled Suspended States. Shonibare’s work is also featured at the Venice Biennale 2024 as part of the Nigerian Pavilion, in the group show: Nigeria Imaginary.
Fondation H is a Malagasy contemporary art foundation. It was founded in Antananarivo in 2017 on the initiative of entrepreneur and patron Hassanein Hiridjee, who believed that art and culture have a strong social impact and enable a critical opening to the world. It has been recognized as a public utility since 2018. Fondation H, in its 2,200-square-meter space in downtown Antananarivo, the capital of Madagascar, invites local or international curators to conceive exhibitions anchored in the Malagasy context.
