Santiago Sierra (born in Madrid in 1966) explores the relationship between labour, value and capital through poetic and frequently controversial actions. His representations of the exploitative transactions of everyday life often involve contracting people to perform useless, degrading or repetitive tasks. Sierra’s work issues a coruscating critique of the brutality of capitalism,using capitalism’s own logic and methods.
His work touches on a range of related themes including immigration, exclusion, separation, invisibility, exploitation, dignity, resistance and the art market. Offering little by way of apology or solution to the predicament of those involved, his work often presents ethical dilemmas for spectator and art institution and implicates the audience in the events they witness.
Curated by Sara Greavu & Jonathan Cummins.
