Meriem Bennani's 'For My Best Family' Exhibition at Fondazione Prada Explores Conversation and Collectivity

Fondazione Prada presents Meriem Bennani's solo exhibition 'For My Best Family,' which opened on 31 October and runs until 24 February 2025. The exhibition features two interconnected works exploring human connection through installation and film. On the ground floor of the Podium building, 'Sole crushing'—a kinetic installation created with musician Reda Senhaji (Cheb Runner)—uses flip-flops mounted on islands to produce rhythmic sounds via a pneumatic system. This work draws inspiration from Moroccan music rituals like deqqa marrakchia, echoing both celebratory gatherings and protest demonstrations. Upstairs, the gallery transforms into a cinema screening 'For Aicha,' an animated film co-directed by Bennani and Orian Barki in collaboration with John Michael Boling and Jason Coombs. The film follows Bouchra, a Moroccan jackal in New York, as she documents her relationship with her mother, blending 3D animation with documentary-style conversations. Bennani emphasizes themes of togetherness and non-verbal communication, noting that the installation represents collective interaction while the film focuses on familial dialogue. The exhibition's title references the Latin 'animatio,' meaning to give life, unifying both pieces conceptually.