Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by Latifa Echakhch. It dates from 2019 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Latifa Echakhch, a Moroccan-French artist based in Switzerland, produced this screenprint in 2019. Known for her conceptual approach to materials and memory, she often works across installation and print media. This piece is part of The Museum of Modern Art’s collection, reflecting its significance within contemporary discourse on abstraction and cultural residue.
Subject & Meaning
The image presents a dense, irregular network of black lines resembling an abstracted maze or neural structure. Its chaotic form evokes systems of control, memory, or displacement—themes recurring in Echakhch’s practice. The lack of clear entry or exit points suggests entrapment or unresolved histories, inviting contemplation rather than narrative resolution.
Technique & Style
Executed as a screenprint, the work employs a stencil to deposit ink onto paper, allowing for controlled repetition with intentional imperfections. The ink bleeds at the edges, creating a ghostly, uneven texture that softens the rigid geometry of the lines. This tactile quality contrasts with the mechanical process, introducing a sense of human intervention and decay.
History & Provenance
Created in 2019, the print entered The Museum of Modern Art’s collection shortly after its production. Echakhch’s prior recognition, including the 2013 Marcel Duchamp Prize and participation in the 2011 Venice Biennale, contributed to the work’s institutional acquisition. Its inclusion signals a broader interest in her exploration of cultural erasure and material ambiguity.
Context
Echakhch’s practice emerges from a postcolonial framework, often addressing the erasure of cultural identity through minimal, material interventions. This screenprint aligns with her broader use of monochrome and repetitive forms to evoke absence and silence. It resonates with contemporaneous artistic inquiries into how histories are preserved—or lost—in visual language.
Legacy
Its presence in MoMA’s collection anchors it within ongoing dialogues about abstraction and identity in 21st-century art.
The work contributes to a growing body of contemporary prints that prioritize conceptual weight over decorative form. Echakhch’s use of screenprinting to convey fragility and impermanence has influenced younger artists exploring similar themes of memory and cultural dislocation. Its presence in MoMA’s collection anchors it within ongoing dialogues about abstraction and identity in 21st-century art.
Artist & collection
Artist
Latifa Echakhch (Arabic: لطيفة الشخش; born 1974) is a Moroccan-French visual artist. Working in Switzerland, she creates installations. She participated in the Venice Biennale in 2011 and won the Marcel Duchamp Prize in 2013.
