Santiago Sierra and Eugenio Merino unveil 4-meter puppet of King Felipe VI at ARCOmadrid
At ARCOmadrid 2019, Spanish artists Santiago Sierra and Eugenio Merino presented 'Ninot' (2019), a 4-meter-tall puppet of King Felipe VI, causing a media frenzy. The sculpture, made of wood, wax, and polyurethane, was produced in Valencia's Fallas workshops. It is priced at €200,000, with the buyer contractually obligated to burn it within a year and document the act on video, retaining only the fireproof skull. The work references the traditional Fallas festival where satirical figures are burned. The piece sparked political debate amid Catalan independence tensions and criticism of the monarchy. Prometeo Gallery's Ida Pisani handled the media attention, while other works by artists like Maria Eulaia Marmolejo, Regina José Galindo, and Sierra himself were overshadowed. The king was scheduled to visit the fair the following day with Queen Letizia and Peru's president.
Key facts
- Santiago Sierra and Eugenio Merino created a 4-meter puppet of King Felipe VI titled 'Ninot' (2019).
- The work debuted at ARCOmadrid 2019 in the stand of Prometeo Gallery, run by Ida Pisani.
- The sculpture is made of wood, wax, and polyurethane, dimensions 120x120x444 cm.
- It was produced in Valencia's Fallas workshops, where traditional satirical figures are made.
- The purchase price is €200,000, with a contract requiring the buyer to burn it within a year and film the act.
- Only the fireproof skull and artistic documentation remain after burning.
- The work references the Fallas festival, where figures are burned around March 19.
- The piece stirred political controversy amid Catalan independence movements and criticism of the Spanish monarchy.
- Ida Pisani faced intense media scrutiny, while other exhibited works were overlooked.
- King Felipe VI was scheduled to visit ARCOmadrid the next day with Queen Letizia and Peru's president.
Entities
Artists
- Santiago Sierra
- Eugenio Merino
- Maria Eulaia Marmolejo
- Regina José Galindo
Institutions
- Prometeo Gallery
- ARCOmadrid
- Helga de Alvear
Locations
- Madrid
- Spain
- Valencia
- Peru