ndao hanavao exhibits matter of possibilities at tana design week

Ndao Hanavao on Matter(s) of Possibility

At the heart of Antananarivo’s Cité des Cultures, the social design laboratory Ndao Hanavao, founded by Rubis Mécénat in 2018, unveils its collective exhibition Matières des Possibles (Matter(s) of Possibility) from 28 June to 9 August 2025 as part of the third edition of Tana Design Week. Curated by Benjamin Loyauté, this manifesto-like showcase highlights how waste materials, especially plastic and plant refuse, are transformed into sustainable, functional, and poetic designs. Positioned within the 2025 event theme, ‘The Genius of Plants,’ the exhibition invites audiences to reconsider the potential of discarded matter in shaping a new design ethic rooted in local context and global relevance.

Workshop on invasive algae recycling with Samuel Tomatis © Nemo Neo, courtesy Rubis Mécénat

the social design laboratory of Transformation

At the core of Matières des Possibles lies the vision of Rubis Mécénat, the cultural and social endowment fund of the French energy group Rubis, established in 2011. Based in France, the fund supports emerging artistic practices and fosters creative education in under-resourced communities through long-term cultural projects.

In 2018, Rubis Mécénat founded Ndao Hanavao – which means ‘Let’s Innovate’ in Malagasy – as a training and innovation laboratory for social design in Antananarivo, Madagascar. The initiative brings together local artisans, young trainees, and international designers to collaboratively develop sustainable design solutions that directly address Madagascar’s environmental and socio-economic challenges. With a focus on hands-on experimentation and knowledge transmission, Ndao Hanavao operates as both a creative incubator and a platform for social impact, embodying Rubis Mécénat’s mission to empower through art and design.

Workshop on invasive algae recycling with Samuel Tomatis © Henitsoa Rafalia, courtesy Rubis Mécénat

Rubis Mécénat responds to socio-environmental challenges

Central to the exhibition is the work developed inside the Ndao Hanavao laboratory, a space where design, craftsmanship, and sustainability converge. The lab empowers Malagasy youth through hands-on projects and collaborative innovation. Here, discarded plastic and invasive aquatic plants are not problems—they’re raw materials. Projects on display include those by acclaimed designers like Samuel Tomatis, Alexandre Echasseriau, Laureline Galliot, and local artist Richianny Ratovo, whose works blend technical experimentation with cultural storytelling.

Matières des Possibles functions both as exhibition and declaration. It redefines recycling as a creative act of resistance, invention, and care. Visitors will encounter not only finished design objects but also evidence of the processes behind them—material studies, transformation techniques, and narrative documentation. Loyauté’s curatorial approach blends visual storytelling with research, asking us to reflect on production, resource use, and the future of design itself.

Workshop on invasive algae recycling with Samuel Tomatis © Henitsoa Rafalia, courtesy Rubis Mécénat

Rubis Mécénat demonstrates its long-term commitment to contemporary creation and youth empowerment. With initiatives in South Africa, Jamaica, and Madagascar, the fund integrates artistic practice with social impact. The Ndao Hanavao project, in particular, has led to the emergence of ventures like R’Art Plast, a youth-led eco-enterprise producing recycled materials for commercial use.

In its third edition in 2025, Tana Design Week – under the direction of designer Domi Sanji – continues to redefine Madagascar’s creative landscape. By promoting cross-disciplinary collaboration between local and international talents, the event has become a vital platform for experimental design thinking. With Matières des Possibles, Ndao Hanavao solidifies its role as a key actor in this movement, offering a grounded yet visionary example of how design can serve as both tool and testimony.

Workshop on invasive algae recycling with Samuel Tomatis © Henitsoa Rafalia, courtesy Rubis Mécénat