OCTAVI SERRA

The Spanish artist’s work is a sign of our times and a reaction to dissatisfaction with the current social landscape. Serra constructs conceptual installations that mock contemporary culture and seriously challenge the status quo: each image conveys a message about some kind of sociopolitical issue. Whether it’s surveillance, greed, corruption, environmental destruction, selfishness, or technology... no stone is left unturned. The doughnut that tempts you to “Just Do It” with its infamous Nike slogan, a clock that portrays the obsession with spending all our time at work, or encourages the viewer to literally leave their doubts in the trash, are some examples of this representation. Whatever the aspect, Serra’s sense of disillusionment is evident. In a recent interview, he warns: “We’ve been sold a basic template for living in the world, [and] if we don’t make an effort to overcome or change it, it’s easy to end up looking like automatons.”

Text courtesy Alzueta Gallery.