Our Artist Network

Fidi's workshop in Kelilalina, Madagascar, is hard to miss. Drive down Madagascar's National Road N25 and you'll come across a large building with ornate columns and window arches, all handmade by Fidi himself. Planks of recycled wood, roots of dead trees, coconut shells, and leftover bamboo spill out the door, through which you'll find Fidi working on his latest design. His carvings draw on the beauty of Ranomafana National Park, featuring its flora and fauna in homewares, jewelry, and other accessories. Perhaps his most impressive work is the result of his scientific studies of orchids — his intricate and lifelike Darwin's Orchid, complete with roots, flowers, and leaves that come apart and fit together like a puzzle. This delicate and detailed work is made possible by the use of his tools, which he makes by hand using recycled iron, plastic, and rubber tires. However, the Voah'art Woodcarving Workshop is not only a shop, but a place to train others in woodcarving as a sustainable source of income. "At Voah'art, we provide an advanced training to young villagers, especially those who did not have the opportunity to continue their higher education. We also train them to be more responsible and ethical," Fidi says. We're thrilled to have Fidi join our oloNala Artist Network and to share his knowledge of woodworking with students in our Residency program! 

Barbara Wille is a visual artist based in Berlin. She works in the field of sculpture, installation, object and photography. Her conceptually oriented, sculptural and installative works often interact with the public sphere. They focus on specific sites, their history and narratives and some are commissioned as Art in Public Space, or Kunst am Bau. Barbara Wille uses various media and materials to create an open dialogue between the artwork and the viewer. Her work has been displayed in numerous exhibitions.

Conservation is Claire's passion and, with a background in education, she is dedicated to inspiring the next generation to protect our planet. She recently made a film in Madagascar about the last Greater Bamboo Lemur in Madagascar's Ranomafana National Park. You can find out more about it on her website: CTWildlife - Wildlife artwork and photography. Claire is excited to be a part of this innovative new project and is looking forward to meeting lots of inspiring people!