Anri Sala’s early videos and films mined his personal experience to reflect on the social and political change taking place in his native Albania.

The Serpentine Gallery exhibition (and this accompanying catalogue) focuses on recent developments in Sala’s work, particularly the artist’s growing interest in music and sound. Linked to this development is his long-standing interest in performance, and particularly musical performance.

A central premise of the exhibition is that most of the works presented at the Serpentine either use a live performance as their starting point or could lead to a performance in the future.

This publication features new essays by art historian Michael Fried and writer and curator Joshua Simon, as well as an extensive interview with the artist by Serpentine Gallery Directors Julia Peyton-Jones and Hans Ulrich Obrist. It also includes an interview between the saxophonist Andre Vida who will be performing at the Serpentine Gallery throughout the exhibition.

Designed by Quentin Walesch and featuring a selection of Sala’s transcripts and scores from his films and performances, this is the definitive publication on the artist’s recent work.

Published on the occasion of the exhibition Anri Sala at Serpentine Gallery, London, 1 October – 20 November 2011.