Artwork of Catalan ‘political prisoners’ pulled from Madrid festival sold

The artwork featuring Catalan “political prisoners” that was removed on Wednesday from Madrid’s International Contemporary Art Festival (ARCO) has been sold. The piece called “Political Prisoners in Contemporary Spain”, by artist Santiago Sierra, includes the portraits of four Catalan leaders held behind bars for their role in Catalonia’s push for independence. The businessman, Tatxo Benet, acquired the work for 80,000 euros. Benet says he bought the controversial work before knowing that it had been pulled from the exhibition.

On Thursday, ARCO organizers issued a statement apologizing for the controversy sparked by the removal of the exhibit. "In no case did we want to censor the artwork, although public opinion has perceived it this way." Yet, ARCO is not changing its decision and "Political prisoners" will not be displayed in the festival.

In an interview with Catalan public television, Benet said it is “outrageous” that the artwork was not put on display, and he added that he would like the piece to reach as many people as possible. He has thus offered to lend the work featuring the imprisoned Catalan leaders to “any museum in Spain wanting to exhibit it.” “It is unacceptable that one can limit artistic freedom in the 21st century,” said the buyer.   

Benet also pointed out that while Madrid’s International Contemporary Art Festival tries to project a “modern image”, he argued that “censorship is the antithesis of modernity.” In fact, he suggested that the artwork’s removal has “seriously damaged” the image of the Madrid art festival.