Célia Rakotondrainy.

shifting landscape

With guest artists Carolin Ruggaber, Izzy Dempsey, and Daniela Suleymanova

may 3 - july 20

Here starts a poetic and visual journey to redefine the notion of identity (ies), exploring the sense of self within the intimate and contemplative space each painting offers.

Célia Rakotondrainy's work is a testament to the fluidity and complexity of identity. She poetically depicts that identity constantly evolves and is dynamically composed of added, transformed, destroyed, and reformed layers over time, making it no different from painting: a construction. Her deliberate, thick brush strokes, never too blended, reflect this purpose while allowing her to play with the illusion of details to challenge our perception. Rakotondrainy's figures are cut out, depersonalized, and reorganized on the canvas, echoing the necessity to deconstruct and understand all the components that reveal themselves to us. This desire and need to go beyond conflict and harmonize various elements are reflected in her art and are inspired by her narrative, woven by threads of Malagasy lineage and mixed heritage.

Water and flowers serve as symbolic motifs within her works, enriching the identity narrative with their profound resonance. Like the ebb and flow of existence, these motifs encapsulate the ever-changing nature of self-perception, inviting viewers to embrace the complexities of their own identities. At the heart of 'shifting landscape' lies the exploration of the human body as a vessel of identity. Rakotondrainy's portraits, rich in symbolism and metaphor, evoke a sense of introspection and revelation, challenging viewers to confront the layers of their selfhood.

Superposed to the body are deconstructed floral compositions, a metaphorical approach to the notion of our existence as geographical beings shaped by our ever-changing environment and the intimate and fleeting nature of our existence beyond space and time. The many elements that shape us are being grown and nurtured within the body. These identity markers are metaphorized through flowers, offering a prism through which the multidimensionality and multifacetedness of identity are not only revealed but also challenged, rejecting the notion that identity is fixed and immutable, somewhat fluid and ever-changing. Thus, the body is only a space of encounters that truly knows no borders, existing timelessly. We will be here long after we are gone, and we will shape other individual's sense of self in ways we cannot yet comprehend.

'shifting landscape' is rooted in a contemporary discourse that challenges fixed notions of identity. Drawing inspiration from theories of fluidity and multiplicity, Rakotondrainy's work explores the dynamic interplay between individuality and environment, inviting viewers to reconsider their perceptions of self.

In Rakotondrainy's practice, storytelling and collaboration form the essence of her work. She collaborates with her models and invites other artists to engage in engaging conversations that inform and enrich her process. Her art becomes a platform for shared stories, where personal journeys intertwine with broader themes of culture, belonging, and human connection.

This body of work was built over more than two years and nurtured by the painter and three other women artists she invited to take part: Caroline Ruggaber, Izzy Dempsey, and Daniela Suleymanova, who is also the model whom the paintings tell the story. Suleymanova is the poet and singer from Elements of Growth, and the sound installation was created specially for this project. The four artists have provided their insights in the process of identity construction, suggesting once again multiplicity and timelessness. It also invites the viewer to project their realities, find resonance in the complex histories displayed in front of them, and help them question how they will impact the identity-building of the individual in front of them.

This exhibition leads within the intimate, fragmented space of one individual's search for identity. The genuine intention is to recreate the feeling of a similar space of reflection, decomposing the process through which one individual builds their sense of identity, to which others might find an echo of their own journey. Through sounds, feelings, visuals, and textures, our work is only one way to explore, deconstruct, and crush these limits, defining identity beyond cultural, ethnic, or binary elements. We introduce one individual who uses their body as a starting point of a permanent journey of self-discovery, embraces the multiplicities of their identities, and defines themselves against all odds where polar concepts come crashing within ourselves, creating these sometimes painful, sharp edges such as a sense of being lost, incompleteness or unworthiness. However, despite the pain, the search for identity is a deeply human endeavor, a universal and intimate journey echoing in our contemporary world. We exist amongst communities, nations, and worlds while simultaneously feeling the intensifying need to find our individuality and voice within an endless stream. Who am I amongst others? And who am I opposed to others? Navigating this incredible space, understanding our interconnectedness to the elements that compose our world, and finding them within ourselves is our way to understand identity. We are geographical beings.

This body of work began its journey in Berlin, where the seeds of inspiration were planted, and culminated in the Azores, where the project blossomed into fruition. The exhibition traversed geographical boundaries from Atlanta to Los Angeles, echoing the sentiment conveyed in the first act : from one shore to another, my name might not be the same. As it finds its home in Washington, the exhibition continues its transformative journey, inviting viewers to dive into the nuances of identity within the individual realm of artistic expression.

Célia Rakotondrainy was born in Paris in 1994 and currently lives and works between São Miguel, Paris, and Nosy Be. After completing her studies at Iéseg Paris, she focused entirely on painting. While pursuing her passion for art, she also enrolled in the Art History program at Oxford through their distance learning program. In 2019, Rakotondrainy furthered her curatorial training at the University of the Arts in Berlin and the Freie Universität in the art market. Represented by Chela Mitchell Gallery, Rakotondrainy is a self-taught French Malagasy artist. She has exhibited globally, including in Paris, Miami, Washington DC, Atlanta, Barcelona, and Cologne. Artnet has listed her as one of the top artists to watch and has been mentioned in notable press such as The Washington Post, The New York Times, Grazia, Architectural Digest, Made in Bed, and Art She Says. She has participated in international art fairs like NADA, Swab, or MISA powered by König Gallery.