Hablar sobre dictaduras en España es ideal

The artist Eugenio Merino, author of the work «Lavado de la cara», which is exhibited at the ADN gallery in Armadrid 2025, states that his work refers to «cleaning that has been taken to the extreme even in the last 20 years». Therefore, the dishwasher contains 16 plates with the faces of world leaders, such as Donald Trump, Santiago Abascal, Marine Le Pen, or Elon Musk, among others.

– «Spain is the perfect place to talk about dictators. This was something that was thought of in the fascist movement,» said Merino in an interview with Europe Press on the first day of Armadrid 2025.

The artist, whose work is valued at 22,000 euros, says it is a «very direct» critique for those who have supported or whitewashed the aforementioned politicians. – «I don’t think there is any controversy. It is a very clear piece that represents the current situation and state of the world,» he defends.

«Normally, a sanitary cordon has been applied to the extreme right, but now these formations are post-fascism. Before fascism distributes democracy. The problem is that these correct parties have become formations that accept democracy and act from within,» he emphasizes.

Donald Trump, Elon Musk, Giorgia Meloni, Marine Le Pen, Santiago Abascal, Benjamin Netanyahu, Javier Milei, Herbert Kickl (Austria), Mateusz Morawiecki (Poland), Alice Weidel, among others. «It is a clear picture of what fascism is in the West,» he points out.

«Face Laving» is an original dishwasher and, as Merino points out, it will be used. – «The washing happens in your mind, because it is a dishwasher that is real and can be used. The vessels were made to eat in them,» he explains. The work follows this with use and over time, the faces disappear.

Eugenio Merino believes that if there are controversies surrounding his activity, it is because of «how Spain should view art», although he adds that he is not concerned about possible criticisms. – «Art expresses an idea and an opinion of someone and it is called freedom of expression and should not be controversial in a country like Spain,» he insists.

This Armadrid edition is the 25th for Merino, who recalls that he only missed it in 2013 «for reasons». The artist refers to his work «Siempre Franco» exhibited in 2012, in which he placed the dictator in a refrigerator.

This work has provoked criticism from the Francisco Franco Foundation, which denounced Merino twice. However, Justice upheld the artist’s right. – «I was denounced twice and won both. Although, from Ifema, the president of that period supported the complaint,» he says.

In this sense, he criticizes that this moment was one of those that led him to believe that «there is a lot of fascism in Spain.» – «Therefore, talking about the ‘lavado de cara’ makes sense,» he reiterates. Merino is known in Arco for his controversial works, such as «Fidel Zombi» in 2008, when he showed a specter of the former Cuban president or a ninot of Felipe VI in 2019. «The challenge must be in art. Each work challenges a logic,» he points out.

FUENTE