Pierrot Men is THE photographer who best represents Madagascar through his magnificent black and white photographs. This undisputed master of light and shadow is recognized and awarded for his achievements, presenting with poetry to the world the beauty of the Malagasy landscape and the dignity of his people!

A Photographer Apart

Chan Hong Men Pierrot, known as Pierrot Men, was born on November 21, 1954 in Midongy du Sud (Southeast Madagascar), to a Chinese father and a Franco-Malagasy mother. He still lives in Fianarantsoa and runs a photography studio there. In reality, one of his five sons manages the shop, but he continues to work there. He may not look like the typical Malagasy, but he represents his country magnificently—particularly through his photographs. In his youth, he was eager to leave school to pursue his first love: painting. He opened a photography laboratory in 1974 to support himself and his family. His professional work consisted of taking identity photos, wedding and baptism photos. In his private life, he also took photographs for pleasure and as reference material for his painting. He decided to devote himself entirely to photography when a friend made him realize that these photographic works were far superior to his paintings. Success came quickly, as he participated in the African Photography Encounters in Bamako in 1991 and won the Leica Mothers Jones Prize from San Francisco in 1995.

Magnificently Haunting Photographs

The love he holds for his country shines through in his work. Madagascar is indeed the main subject of his creations. He captures the soul and beauty of the Malagasy people and landscape in a way no one else can. Many travelers have actually decided to take a journey to Madagascar after seeing his photographs. Some might be misled and believe that this artist portrays the hardship of the Malagasy people, but in reality, Pierrot Men shows the dignity of his people. He poetically tells the story of the daily life of Malagasy people and reveals beauty and authenticity in contexts where one might not expect to find them. As he puts it so well: "We photograph best what we know most intimately." It is therefore natural to be filled with emotion and to grasp at a glance the essence and Malagasy beauty through his photographs. It is clear that he deeply cherishes his native land, Fianarantsoa, which appears frequently in his images.

A Showroom You Must Visit

This passionate artist never stops working and has accumulated countless photographs in his home. He has finally decided to share them with the Malagasy people, as he said himself on the occasion of opening his first showroom in Antananarivo, the capital. Located in the Tana Water Front shopping center in Ambodivona, this 55 m² gallery was designed as a place of exchange between photographers and between artists (painters, photographers, writers, etc.). In addition, of course, to being a space for sharing his passion and his works that represent Madagascar so well—those things that escape the pessimists. His exhibition at the Musée Quai Branly – Jacques Chirac – Paris (18/09/2018 – 01/01/2019) is titled "18 photographs, to tell the daily life of Malagasy people and the small things in life we forget to notice". Before that, he will also exhibit at the ARGENTIC gallery (43 Rue Daubenton, 75005 Paris) from Thursday, September 13, 2018 to Saturday, October 20, 2018.

You may also read the article photography and video in Madagascar, to help you prepare your equipment for your future trip.