Yto Barrada's 'Le Grand Soir' Transforms MoMA PS1 Courtyard
On April 25, artist Yto Barrada (Moroccan-French, b. 1971) will debut her large-scale installation, Le Grand Soir, at MoMA PS1, marking the beginning of a two-year commission. This installation showcases vibrant concrete blocks arranged into pyramid-like towers, inviting viewer interaction. It draws inspiration from Moroccan human pyramids, Brutalist design, and Barrada's familial background. The tradition of human pyramids originates from warriors and the Sufi mystic Sidi Ahmed Ou Moussa, who defended against Portuguese attacks. The installation's colors—green (housing), red (labor), yellow (leisure), and blue (mobility)—reflect CIAM Grid principles. The title nods to early 20th-century anarcho-syndicalism. Barrada's father faced a death sentence for activism in 1963 before escaping Morocco. The project is organized by Ruba Katrib and Jody Graf.
Key facts
- Yto Barrada is Moroccan-French, born 1971.
- Le Grand Soir is a two-year commission at MoMA PS1.
- Opening date: April 25.
- Installation features colorful concrete blocks stacked into pyramidal towers.
- Visitors can sit on and explore the lower levels.
- The work serves as a setting for PS1's Warm Up summer music series.
- Inspirations include human pyramids in Morocco, Moroccan Brutalism, and Barrada's family lore.
- Human pyramids were used by warriors to peer over fortifications.
- Sidi Ahmed Ou Moussa of Tazerwalt led defense against Portuguese incursions in the 15th century.
- Moroccan acrobats performed in European and American circuses by the 19th century.
- Acrobatic formations referenced: tqal, bourj tarbaite, bourj benayma ou chebaken.
- Concrete blocks are thirty-inch modular units.
- Moroccan Brutalist architecture emerged after independence from France and Spain in 1956.
- Colors used: green, red, yellow, blue (CIAM Grid).
- Title Le Grand Soir means 'The Big Night' in French.
- Barrada's father was condemned to death in 1963 for leading UNEM.
- Her father escaped Morocco with her mother's help and remained in exile until the 1970s.
- Exhibition organized by Ruba Katrib and Jody Graf.
Entities
Artists
- Yto Barrada
- Sidi Ahmed Ou Moussa
Institutions
- MoMA PS1
- UNEM (Union Nationale des Etudiants Marocains)
Locations
- Morocco
- Tazerwalt
- France
- Spain
- Portugal