Fireflies

Generally known for his installation work encompassing sculpture, video and soundscapes, Fireflies focuses wholly on Parreno's lesser-known drawings. The drawings collected here showcase a delicate, personal touch, as they were created while Parreno was ill with cancer and were sent to his friends. In Parreno's drawings the fireflies' light is often created by an absence of darkness or pigment. This striking contrast perfectly encapsulates the bioluminescent glow emanating from the insect's abdomen. The book is edited by Hans Ulrich Obrist, artistic director of the Serpentine Galleries. An interview with the artist by Obrist and an essay by Belgian philosopher Vinciane Despret accompany the works.