Santiago Sierra's Political Prisoners artwork censored at ARCO Madrid, prompting mayor's boycott

On February 21, 2018, Santiago Sierra's artwork 'Political Prisoners in Contemporary Spain' was removed from Helga de Alvear's booth at ARCO Madrid just before the VIP opening. The state exhibition center Ifema ordered the removal, claiming it would undermine the visibility of other works at the fair. Madrid Mayor Manuela Carmena boycotted the opening in protest, stating her commitment to defending freedom of creation, expression, and exhibition. The work features blurred black-and-white portraits of Catalan independence activists and politicians arrested in 2017, facing charges of sedition or rebellion. Each image includes subtitles describing the figures' roles, organizations, and charges. Sierra denounced the action as censorship of a work that highlights persecution of cultural workers. His gallerist suggested the removal was a diplomatic move to avoid conflict, noting that Ifema and the government likely wanted to prevent complications. The incident occurred at the ARCO Madrid art fair, hosted by Ifema in Madrid, Spain.