Spanish Comedian Carlös Areces Slams Humour Limits as Censorship in Andorra Exhibition

Spanish comedian and actor Carlös Areces has described legislative limits on humour in fiction as "censorship," while acknowledging that many of his black humour cartoons on display in Andorra would offend contemporary audiences.

In a recent interview with *El Periòdic*, Areces, whose *Ocurrió cerca de tu casa* ("It Happened Near Your House") exhibition opened at La Massana Còmic museum on Saturday, defended unrestricted creative freedom. "The only limit you should set is your own, with total creative liberty. That would be ideal," he said, insisting such restrictions would represent "a terrible step backwards." He stressed this applied solely to fiction, excluding defamation, insults or incitement to violence.

The show, running from 28 March to 23 May with high-quality prints of over 50 vignettes originally published in *El Jueves* under his pseudonym CARLÖS, covers abortion—a topic often debated in Andorra—corruption, immigration, scatology, gore and absurd scenarios. Areces admitted most would now be deemed "cancellable," noting that republishing them today could spark constant complaints and lawsuits due to social media's reach. He contrasted this with past eras, when objections required physical letters.

"No limits should exist in fiction," Areces reiterated at the launch, attended by over 50 people and hosted by ARCA president Joan Pieras, La Massana councillor Alèxia Verdaguer and ARCA vice-president Jordi Planelles. The event doubled as a 50th birthday tribute, with gifts honouring his careers as actor, illustrator and collector: a commemorative cartoon car by Joan Subirana, Jan's final *Superlópez* drawing, and a rare 1954 original page by Ángel Nadal. Moved by the Nadal piece, he called owning originals from idols like Francisco Ibáñez "a great pride."

Areces, recognised for *La que se avecina*, *Muertos S.L.* and his self-solicited grotesque role as Pelayo in *Torrente Presidente*, rediscovered the drawings with amusement. "I'm seeing these jokes after years, and they're shocking even me. Is anything more idiotic than laughing at your own stuff? Well, it's happening," he said.

He quit a hated office job for illustration, landing stable work at *El Jueves* alongside a children's supplement *Mr. K* and film magazine *Fotogramas*, his last professional gig. Acting demands ended it: "Filming weekdays and weekend flights left no time." He ruled out returning, citing poor pay: "Economically, it's so sad."

The idea stemmed from chats with Pieras, met through a friend; lacking originals, prints sufficed. Areces, new to Andorra's mountains, plans return visits. The exhibition is open Tuesdays to Saturdays, 10am-2pm and 3pm-7pm.