Yto Barrada's 'The Dye Garden' at American Academy in Rome

The American Academy in Rome presents 'The Dye Garden', a solo exhibition by Franco-Moroccan artist Yto Barrada (born Paris, 1971), curated by Peter Benson Miller, the institution's artistic director. Running until July 8, the show features Barrada's recent work exploring the relationship between East and West, and fragile political, social, and cultural systems. In a deep blue room, the exhibition opens with the video 'Tree Identification for Beginners', commissioned by Performa17 and created during Barrada's residency in Rome. Using stop-motion and animation, the video references her mother's 1966 trip to the United States organized by Operation Crossroads Africa, an intercultural experiment analyzed through archival research and Montessori toys. One toy, a traditional Moroccan game, is displayed under glass as a precious object. A second room, painted soft pink, continues Barrada's research on natural textile dyeing methods using plants and flowers, inspired by English designer and activist William Morris. The exhibition also references artistic influences: Frank Stella's works from 1964-1965 during his African travels, Robert Rauschenberg's 1953 trip to Morocco, and African artists Mohamed Chebaa, Farid Belkahia, and Mohammed Melehi, founders of the 1960s Casablanca School. These references appear in canvases and vitrines arranged by the artist.