For My Best Family

Starting today, October 31st, 2024, Meriem Bennani’s exhibition For My Best Family opens at Fondazione Prada in Milan. This ambitious project features a large-scale site-specific installation along with an art film co-directed by Orian Barki, exploring the intricacies of connection within public and intimate socio-political settings. Over two years in the making, this exhibition showcases Bennani’s unique approach to storytelling, which combines fantastical imagery with humor to engage with contemporary issues and fragmented identities.

The exhibition is organized across two levels of the Podium. On the ground floor, visitors will experience Sole Crushing, a vibrant installation that brings 192 flip-flops and slippers to life in a choreographed symphony, set to a soundtrack produced in collaboration with Reda Senhaji, also known as Cheb Runner. This kinetic artwork aims to elicit feelings of collective catharsis, echoing traditional Moroccan musical forms and transforming the space into a lively arena of organized chaos.

The first floor will feature a cinema-like setting for For Aicha, an art film that blends documentary and 3D animation. This work follows Bouchra, a Moroccan jackal filmmaker navigating her queerness and its impact on her mother, Aicha, in a narrative that intertwines fiction with real conversations. With a balance of humor and sensitivity, Bennani delves into the complexities of maternal love and pain.

To mark the opening, Bennani will hold a public discussion with Paolo Moretti and Katya Inozemtseva at 7 PM today. This exhibition reflects Fondazione Prada’s ongoing dedication to promoting innovative artistic expressions, solidifying Bennani’s position as a significant voice in contemporary art.