Albert Serra's Documenta 13 Diaries: Hitler, CalArts, and Fetishism

Artpress features three diary entries by Albert Serra from Documenta 13 in Kassel (2012), initially published in La Vanguardia and translated by Charlotte Serrand. In his first entry (June 21, 2012), Serra contemplates the challenge of depicting Hitler in his extensive 101-hour film 'Les Trois Petits Cochons,' ultimately deciding that Hitler cannot be reproduced due to his established caricature; instead, he opts to envision a fantastical version based on reality. The second entry (July 12, 2012) reflects on his contrasting experiences at CalArts, where a relaxed environment thrived, versus a tense dialogue in Kassel with art students who doubted his credibility and dismissed beauty and truth. In the final entry (August 16, 2012), he critiques contemporary art's obsession with physical objects, commending 'pure' painters for their skill and mentioning the Luma Foundation's initiative to dematerialize art via a free book. Serra, who held a retrospective at Centre Pompidou in spring 2013, is set to return for two special evenings on October 25-26.