Originally hailing from Nantes in the West of France, Tanala grew up in South America and
defines herself as a muralist. She harbours a deep fascination for the capacities of art as a
vehicle for grace and sensitivity. Her universe is defined by a relentless search for the motif
often inspired by those of Klimt and Mucha and achieving coherence through meaning and
repetition. Her illustrations vibrate with sense, influenced by the study of ethnology and
the various symbols of ethnic minorities whose history she humbly alludes to. Her use of
Japanese paper along with other fabrics from around the world allows her to nod to
different cultures while discreetly bringing colour into the drawings.
With a long lasting passion for murals, she has a natural attraction for large formats. A
wall, to her, is always defines by its size, shape and location. Its environment will point to
directions and possibilities. The frescoe thus finds its design and identity on one particular
surface. While reaching beyond the frame remains a priority.
Making art accessible to everyone is at the core of all her works. Passers-by have
immediate access to the image just by walking the street, with no need to visit a gallery.
The streets open doors to free speech and allow for the defence of causes deemed essential
by the artist. Tanala’s favourite themes are often related to the world surrounding us and
to human beings and their traditions.
She deeply believes that differences are rich strengths and not obstacles. Furthering the
cause of tolerance lies at the heart of her work.