Artist Biography
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Esperance Mahabe Rakotonirina was born in the town of Tamatave, Madagascar. An island of diverse flora and fauna, Madagascar provides the inspiration for Esperance's art. Esperance lived in Madagascar until he moved to Hawaii in 2010.
Esperance's father was a self-trained artist and provided his son's first introduction to painting. As his capabilities and opportunities increased, Esperance studied under several local artists, including Dokolahy Rabenirina Xavier. During his time in Madagascar, the only medium available to Esperance was basic oils diluted with gasoline. Esperance's talent was evident at an early age. He won his first award at age sixteen at a public show in the town of Maroantsetra. Between 1996 and 2000 he was awarded several honors for his nature and wildlife paintings submitted for the Madagascar National Park's art competition, Association National pour la gestion des Aires protegees. During his university and post-graduate education in agro-ecotourism and English in the country's capital, Esperance expanded his art to include murals, National parks' logos, business commissions and painting for tourists and local hotel gift shops. He also did commercial art, hand-painted signs for businesses. Today Esperance finds that acrylic paints give him the brilliant array of color and are more environmentally friendly and safe to use. (It is those bright colors that attract people to his work.) |