Andrés Senra's 'Safe Space' video invokes queer protection rituals in New York cruising area

Andrés Senra’s video piece 'Safe Space,' set to debut in 2025, serves as a queer manifesto set within a concealed gay cruising park in New York, reinterpreting Catholic saint imagery into figures of heretical protection. Born in 1968, the Spanish artist tackles issues such as LGBTIQ+ homelessness, climate change, queer archives, and migration through his socially engaged initiatives. His emphasis on creating safe environments leads to the production of banners, talismans, and rituals, including invocations like 'Saint Non-binary, protect me from workplace discrimination.' Senra’s work is featured in the 'Outside Lineage' program, which explores resistance to dominant power via orality and myth. His exhibitions have been held at Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, CA2M Madrid, Centro Cultural Recoleta Argentina, and various venues in New York.