Designed for artist Yto Barrada, A Guide to Trees + A Guide to Fossils is a striking two-volume set that brings together two of Barrada’s satirical artist books. A Guide to Trees for Governors and Gardeners humorously offers advice to urban landscapers on how to prepare cities for dignitaries, gradually revealing the absurdity behind the seemingly patriotic facades.
A Guide to Fossils for Forgers and Foreigners documents Barrada’s research on the fossil trade in Morocco’s Atlas Mountains, combining in-depth study with artistic narrative in a mock guidebook format. Under the project direction of Nadja Zimmermann and with editorial work by Sean Gullette, this edition, published by Koenig Books London, merges wit, research, and visual storytelling into a critical commentary on societal constructs.
