Yto Barrada: The Sample Book Exhibition – Uncovering Moroccan Fossils and Cultural Narratives

This exhibition features new works by Yto Barrada that build upon her 'Faux Guide' series, continuing her exploration of fossil finds in Morocco. The show delves into the parallel economies of paleontological excavation and 'dinosaur tourism,' examining themes of resistance, subversion, and the significance of found objects.

The exhibition 'The Sample Book' by Yto Barrada presents new works continuing her engagement with Moroccan fossil finds and the associated 'dinosaur tourism' and 'preparators' economy. Building on her 'Faux Guide' series, Barrada explores themes of resistance, subversion, and the use of everyday objects as focal points for complex narratives. Barrada's interest lies in uncovering the traces left by people and focusing on their importance, often using 'readymades' or overlooked everyday items. 'The Sample Book,' like her previous work 'Faux Guide,' is composed of numerous individual pieces that function autonomously yet are interconnected through a subtle reference system. The exhibition highlights Barrada's recent focus on textile works, inspired by a hand-painted lithological table. She translates its color codes and patterns into embroidery and naturally dyed fabrics. Additionally, color photograms introduce a painterly element to her photographic practice. The interactive 'Educational Board' allows visitors to experiment with fabric samples representing geological eras, playfully reimagining the world. The exhibition also features sample books, relics of a past consumer society, which Barrada uses to explore production, distribution, economic structures, and hierarchies. Found objects and items made from waste products, such as 'Nest' and 'Indigo,' exemplify her ability to find meaning in simple things, symbolizing weaving, dyeing, clothing, and human cultural history. 'Nougat' presents stacked candy-like forms, referencing geological formations and museum practices, while 'Salon Marocain,' a large-scale replica of children's building blocks covered in Moroccan textiles, invites visitor interaction and bridges the exhibition's beginning and end, reflecting Morocco itself.

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