León Ferrari's 1989 Bíblia series confronts religious dogma and political violence
León Ferrari's 1989 work, Bíblia, serves as his examination of religious authority, a journey that began in 1965 with La Civilización occidental y Cristiana. Over more than two decades, he produced over a hundred collages that blend sacred writings with pieces from artists such as Michelangelo, Dürer, Goya, Da Vinci, and Raphael, as well as newspaper articles. The collages in Bíblia are notable for their overt eroticism and interpretations of Scripture, exploring topics ranging from the divine to the victims of the 1970s dictatorship. Following his son's disappearance in 1976, Ferrari moved to São Paulo, navigating the intersection of art and existence. His work encountered censorship, exemplified in 2004 when Catholic extremists attacked his exhibition. In 2013, Ferrari asserted that freedom of expression encompasses the right to challenge beliefs.
Key facts
- León Ferrari's 1989 Bíblia series concludes his critique of religious power begun in 1965.
- The series comprises over a hundred hybrid collages mixing sacred texts with works by Old Masters and news clippings.
- Ferrari's son disappeared during Argentina's 1976 military dictatorship, leading to his exile in São Paulo.
- In 2004, his exhibition at Buenos Aires's Centro Cultural Recoleta was attacked by Catholic fanatics who burned works.
- Then-Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio (Pope Francis) called Ferrari a "blasphemer" during the 2004 controversy.
- Ferrari's work was censored from the 1989 Art in Latin America exhibition at London's Hayward Gallery.
- The artist never negotiated his freedom of expression with Church or State powers.
- His 2013 statement defended the right to criticize and make art with any belief system.
Entities
Artists
- León Ferrari
- Michelangelo
- Dürer
- Goya
- Da Vinci
- Rafael Sanzio
- Max Ernst
- Regis Bonvicino
- Michel Foucault
- Jorge Mario Bergoglio
- Dawn Ades
Institutions
- Centro Cultural Recoleta
- Hayward Gallery
Locations
- Argentina
- São Paulo
- Brazil
- Buenos Aires
- London
- United Kingdom
- Pisa
- Italy