Scherzo
audio recordings, 2010-2011

In the 13th century, theologian Pierre de Poitiers formulated a theory meant to ensure the validity and efficacy of sacramental liturgy without any reference to the agent. The question posed was: if the priest administering a baptism is a murderer or an apostate, is the baptism valid? After extensive debate, the Church decided that, irrespective of the priest's moral character, the baptism remains valid.

In fact, the only circumstance that can nullify a sacrament like baptism is if the priest is joking.




In the Church of Notre Dame de Fourvière in Lyon, I recorded a series of conversations with several priests in a confessional. Starting with a set of fictional details I provided, the dialogues delved into Pierre de Poitiers’ theory, questioning the joke as a human device that disrupts the dichotomy between truth and fiction. Much like a joke, each conversation concluded with an uncomfortable laugh.

In Italian, the saying “scherzo da prete” (priest’s joke) denotes a nasty trick — a prank so malicious it no longer seems like a joke.

Conversation 1 (French, Italian subtitles)

Conversation 2 (French)




Exhibited at: MAMbo – Museo d'Arte Moderna di Bologna, Italy (2017); Universidad Javeriana, Cali, Colombia (2014); Jarach Gallery, Venezia (2013); ENSBA, Lyon (2011).