We bring together in this volume some of the most notable —and unpublished— writings of Isidoro Valcárcel Medina, many of them conceived as public interventions.

The reflections they contain carry a wealth of ideas —neither tampered with nor automatic— that are a greater stimulus for thought, which exceeds the limits of art.

Although Valcárcel Medina is considered one of the most important conceptual artists of our time, whoever approaches these texts will find in them the fruit of a thinker who patiently breaks down each of the issues he addresses.

In this book, which must be tasted slowly — rushing is not worth it here — the following essays are included: «Spirit of an apprentice», «The economic art», «State of siege», «Primores de dissidence», «The Unborn City”, “Rational Indications of Irrationality” and “El Seguro Chance”.

[...] We have become accustomed to the passive character of the regulated or institutional culture. This passivity is now stronger. Even more than when cultural assets were more private.

Because the boom in cultural diffusion that we are experiencing today cannot be considered anything other than a very, very relative achievement… Because everything is at the sound of a bugle.

At one point, the contented class was interested in "sacralizing" culture, for lack of more sacred sacralities. I know someone who, abounding in the opinion that culture today replaces religion, says that artists are the saints of the day. And before them the bourgeoisie prostrates itself in an attitude of passive and resigned adoration, not to say submitted. (I'm talking about historical and current artists).

What does culture crisis mean? It means that today passivity, indoctrination and thoughtless acceptance are more ingrained and practiced by more people.

Museums are mausoleums, it has always been said. Today, museums are cemeteries, simply. [...]