Yto Barrada: Riffs at Deutsche Guggenheim Berlin

Yto Barrada: Riffs at the Deutsche Guggenheim presents photographs, films, publications, installations, and sculptures of the French artist Yto Barrada. It’s the first large-scale exhibition in Germany of the artist, who lives and works in Tangier, Morocco. Her oeuvre deals with the peculiar situation of her hometown. Her work that often deals with migration has become very relevant in the light of the recent development in Northern Africa.

The exhibition is the prize that Yto Barrada won as Deutsche Bank’s “Artist of the Year”. Unlike with other awards, the artist does not receive money, but a solo exhibition at the Deutsche Guggenheim. In this video, VernissageTV has a look at the show during the opening reception, and meets with Deutsche Bank’s Global Head Art and co-curator of the exhibition, Friedhelm Hütte, who talks about the award, the exhibtion and the artist Yto Barrada.

Click here for an interview with Yto Barrada on the occasion of the announcement of the award at Frieze Art Fair 2010.

Yto Barrada: Riffs features selected works from her series “A Life Full of Holes: The Strait project” and “Iris Tingitana”, as well as new photos and films. The Deutsche Guggenheim’s exhibition space has been transformed into a 2-level structure. The show’s title is inspired by music, where “Riff” stands for a rhythmic figure. But Riff also relates to the rugged Rif mountains of Morocco, and to the art deco Rif Cinema, which houses the Tangier Cinémathèque. Yto Barrada: Riffs was conceived by Friedhelm Hütte, Global Head of Deutsche Bank Art, and Marie Muracciole, freelance curator and art critic. More information is also available at the Deutsche Bank Art Mag.

Yto Barrada: Riffs. Opening reception at Deutsche Guggenheim, April 14, 2011.

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Photo set:
Yto Barrada: Riffs

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