King Felipe VI burns in flames: it is the work of Sierra and Merino

King Felipe VI of Spain, depicted in a large statue, burned in flames on Spanish National Day, which is celebrated on Oct. 12 to commemorate the discovery of America by Christopher Columbus.

The perfomance concluded Santiago Sierra and Eugenio Merino’s art project: the sculpture had in fact been exhibited at the ARCO fair two years ago and, according to the artists themselves, had already been created with the intention of burning it as, in the same way, Fallas (monumental figures and compositions made of combustible materials) are burned in traditional Spanish festivals, particularly in Valencia. A way of disposing of the old and corrupt to make room for the new.

It was a work of hyperrealism almost five meters high and created with combustible materials, such as wax, resins, wood, fabric and natural hair; the flames left only the ashes and a fireproof skull, a symbol of vanitas.

With this performance the artists wanted to express “the dreams and wishes of a large part of the population to get rid of an obsolete institution,” a kind of historical document of the time.

At this link the video.

King Felipe VI burns in flames: it is the work of Sierra and Merino

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