Yto Barrada discusses her love of photographing international borders

2006-08-11

Yto Barrada's dual French-Moroccan citizenship has allowed her to travel with relative ease. This has inspired her to take pictures of people for whom border crossings are more difficult.

[File] Barrada

French-Moroccan photographer Yto Barrada is known for taking pictures of Tangier and the Straits of Gibraltrar area. She started her career in 2001 in Paris and received this year's Ellen Auerbach Award from the Berlin Academy of Art.

Magharebia: How did you become a photographer?

Yto Barrada: It was a pure coincidence. In fact, I was a political science student in Palestine and I had the idea of illustrating everything I was writing in my thesis with some photos. Little by little, photography became more and more important.

Magharebia: What do you photograph?

Barrada: Borders, people, barriers, checkpoints and people's attitudes.

Magharebia: How and why did this interest in the Straits of Gibraltar come about?

Barrada: I must say again that it was just by chance, given my studies at the time. Young people speak of borders and dream of Europe. They inspired me to take photos which speak about straits and distress, two words which are very close in meaning. In my photos, I want to show two worlds separated by borders. I also want to show the hope and despair of youth.

Magharebia: What do you think about what's happening in the straits?

Barrada: It's interesting to see borders from just one side. The majority of Moroccans cannot cross the borders. It's also interesting to discover that those who get out secretly refer to this action as "burning". It's as if they were burning their passport and their identity before leaving. They are ready to renounce everything in order to leave. But their hearts are full of many feelings, dreams and hopes. Each of them, adults and children alike, await their turn. Some wait until they've saved enough money. Others wait for an opportunity or a contact.

This is what I try to bring out in my photos. I try to capture the attempts. I want to show how the hope of leaving and settling in Europe is changing the life of an entire population.

Magharebia: Does your dual nationality have anything to do with this interest in borders?

Barrada: Certainly. I think I was a privileged child. I crossed borders without really thinking about it. My parents are Moroccan, but I was born in France. So I'm interested because I could have had the same destiny too -- to dream of Europe and never see it come true.