Albert Serra – Liberté

Immersive

Transforming the entire exhibition space into an immersive stage, Serra orchestrates nocturnal and clandestine encounters where theatre, cinema, and art converge.

Freedom

The exhibition offers a bewildering total experience, blending theatrical and cinematic elements, inviting visitors into a world reminiscent of the vibrant landscapes of rococo painters Jean-Honoré Fragonard and François Boucher, combined with the contemporary atmosphere of cruising zones. Amidst the grand projected scenes from Liberté, Serra engages participants in a captivating game of observation and participation, exploring the essence of 'ultimate freedom'

This exhibition marks a fresh phase in Serra's reinterpretation of his play Liberté. We observe a gathering of French aristocrats who, fleeing the confines of Louis XVIII's conservative court, rendezvous with Prussian allies in a forest clearing. Here, they exchange libertine notions of freedom reminiscent of those exposed to the work of the Marquis de Sade.

As the moon rises higher, the freethinkers scatter into the forest, pursuing intimate connections that blur the boundaries of societal norms and physical limitations. Among the trees or cramped within their carriages, they partake in a dance of revelation and secrecy, a captivating blend of observation and tactile discovery.

About Albert Serra

Albert Serra (born in Banyoles, Spain, in 1975) has made ten feature films, short films, video installations and theatre productions.

Cannes

Liberté received the Un Certain Regard - Special Jury Prize at Cannes Film Festival in 2019. The same year, Serra adapted images from Liberté into the two-channel installation titled Personalien that was shown at Reina Sofia.