Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a paint print by Yto Barrada. It dates from 2012 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 2012, this work by Yto Barrada consists of two chromogenic color prints capturing the same scene: three glass spheres resting on a city sidewalk. The prints document an ephemeral installation placed in an urban environment, transforming mundane public space into a site of quiet intervention. The work is part of the collection at The Museum of Modern Art.
Subject & Meaning
The work suggests subtle acts of resistance or reclamation within everyday life.
The glass orbs contain miniature, vividly colored objects—possibly aquatic life or plant fragments—contrasting sharply with the gray pavement and neutral architecture. Their placement in an ordinary street setting disrupts routine perception, inviting contemplation of hidden ecosystems and the tension between nature and urban order. The work suggests subtle acts of resistance or reclamation within everyday life.
Technique & Style
Barrada used chromogenic printing to render the scene with high fidelity, emphasizing texture and color contrast. The composition is deliberately static and observational, avoiding dramatic angles or lighting. The clarity of the images preserves the fragile, transient quality of the installation, reinforcing its quiet, poetic tone rather than overt spectacle.
History & Provenance
The original installation was sited in a public urban space, later documented through photography. The prints were acquired by The Museum of Modern Art shortly after their creation. No record indicates the orbs were removed or preserved beyond the photographic documentation, aligning with Barrada’s interest in impermanence and site-specific intervention.
Context
Barrada’s practice often explores colonial legacies and urban transformation in North Africa, particularly Tangier. This work reflects her broader engagement with overlooked details in the cityscape, where small, unexpected interventions reveal deeper social and ecological tensions. The orbs function as silent witnesses to the rhythms and ruptures of daily life.
Legacy
The work contributes to contemporary discussions on ephemeral art and the poetic potential of public space. It exemplifies how subtle, non-monumental gestures can provoke reflection on environment, memory, and displacement. Its inclusion in MoMA’s collection affirms its role in expanding the boundaries of photographic and installation practice.
Artist & collection
Artist
Yto Barrada is a Franco-Moroccan multimedia visual artist living and working in Tangier, Morocco and New York City.
