Yto Barrada has been selected to represent France at the 61st Venice Biennale in 2026 with her exhibition "Comme Saturne" (Like Saturn) in the French Pavilion. The installation features rebellious stage curtains hiding wasp nests and a copper daguerreotype plate of a planet, a large rock, a Wheel of Fortune, and a nostalgic vanitas arrangement around a missing mirror frame. Curated by Myriam Ben Salah, the show explores textile and natural dyeing, with three cabinets addressing the transmission of know-how, migration of plants and people, postcolonial history, and Enlightenment imperialism. A central room displays 70 pieces forming a symmetrical frieze of red natural dyes, while a black monochrome patchwork highlights the difficulty of achieving black in dyeing. Barrada is the fifth woman to represent France at the Biennale.
This selection matters because it continues the trend of recognizing women artists in major international pavilions and underscores the growing importance of textile art and postcolonial themes in contemporary art. Barrada's focus on craft, migration, and historical critique aligns with current global conversations about decolonization and sustainability. The French Pavilion's freshly restored space, managed by the Institut français, provides a prestigious platform for her surrealist, politically charged work, reinforcing France's commitment to showcasing diverse artistic voices at one of the world's most influential art events.