Madrid’s ARCO Art Fair exhibits photos of far-right leaders in dishwasher
A visitor observes an installation by Spanish artist Eugenio Merino at the 44th ARCO International Contemporary Art Fair in Madrid, Spain, March 5, 2025. (AA Photo)
Madrid’s ARCO Contemporary Art Fair, which opened this year in Spain‘s capital, has attracted significant attention due to political statements made by artists, particularly concerning far-right leaders.
Some of these works included photos of such leaders displayed in unexpected contexts, such as a dishwasher.
Far-right leaders’ photos displayed in a dishwasher
Among the highlights at ARCO, now in its 44th edition, was a provocative piece by Spanish artist Eugenio Merino. His artwork, which targets the rise of far-right politics worldwide, featured photographs of several controversial political figures, including U.S. President Donald Trump, U.S. businessman Elon Musk, Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Spain’s Vox Party leader Santiago Abascal, Argentine President Javier Milei, former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, and Nigel Farage, leader of the U.K. Independence Party. These images were mounted on plates inside a dishwasher.
Merino explained that the piece aimed to “protest the green-lighting of far-right politics in governments across the world and Europe.” He set the price of the work at €22,000 ($23,794.46) and stated, “Spain is the perfect place to talk about dictators, as we had one, and unfortunately, it ended with monarchy.” Merino added that the dishwasher, which could be plugged in to operate, symbolized the “whitening” of these figures, with each wash symbolizing further whitening of their legacies.
Critical videos on Israel and Gaza
ARCO also featured videos addressing controversial global issues, including a critical commentary on Israel’s actions in Gaza. Artists Alex Reynolds and Robert M. Ochshorn used artificial intelligence to create a video titled “Unanswered Questions,” priced at €23,000.
This video showcases a series of questions about the Gaza genocide raised during a U.S. State Department press conference in October 2023, all of which went unanswered.
COVID-19 deaths in Spain draw artistic criticism
Another politically charged artwork at ARCO came from artist Ramon Mateos, who created a piece reflecting on the 7,291 deaths that occurred in Madrid’s nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic. The work, displayed in a prominent gallery, consisted of an aluminum curtain printed with the number 7,291, symbolizing the lives lost.
The gallery owner, Angustias Freijo, explained that the piece was intended to represent not only the deaths but also the hidden truths and the sorrow that these numbers embodied. “Sometimes it’s incredible how much a number can tell us,” Freijo remarked.
Protest against VAT on artworks
In addition to the political works, ARCO’s Spanish galleries also staged a protest against a 21% value added tax (VAT) imposed on art sales. For one minute, gallery owners turned off the lights to draw attention to their demand for the VAT on art to be reduced to 10%.
The ARCO Contemporary Art Fair, inaugurated by King Felipe VI of Spain, will run until March 9. This year, 214 art galleries from 34 countries, including Türkiye, are participating. Two galleries from Türkiye, Oktem Aykut and OG, are among those showcasing their work at the event.
