The Night of the Fireflies
Where ancestral wisdom illuminates the darkness
Casa Serra is pleased to present The Night of the Fireflies, a new exhibition by R.SERRA opening in October 2026. An intimate exploration of matriarchy, motherhood and ancestral memory, the exhibition honours the six women whose strength, knowledge and love have shaped the artist's understanding of the world.
Rooted in the artist's Mexican heritage, the exhibition draws upon the stories, traditions and rituals passed down through generations of his family. At its heart lies a Maya tale told by his grandmother, in which a small firefly, the cocay, is entrusted with finding a healer's precious stone lost in the jungle. While the other animals abandon their search, the cocay perseveres. Through its patience and determination, a light emerges from within its body, illuminating the darkness and guiding it towards what has been lost.
Through painting, sculpture and symbolic forms, R.SERRA constructs a world in which the natural and the spiritual coexist. The jaguar emerges as an embodiment of his grandmother, a figure of wisdom, protection and ancestral strength. Fireflies, plants and imagined creatures inhabit landscapes where the boundaries between memory and mythology dissolve, giving form to the stories and beliefs that have shaped his identity.
Throughout the exhibition, the firefly becomes a symbol of an inner light cultivated through resilience, conviction and humility. Its quiet illumination speaks to the strength required to navigate the unknown, while the recurring presence of feminine figures evokes the enduring influence of the maternal line. Together, these elements form a visual language in which personal memory and collective heritage become inseparable.
The Night of the Fireflies is ultimately a celebration of life and the women who sustain it. It considers inheritance not as something fixed, but as a living exchange between generations, where knowledge is received, transformed and passed onwards. The exhibition reflects upon the profound ways in which motherhood, kinship and the stories of those who came before us continue to shape who we become.
Deeply personal yet universal in its reflections, The Night of the Fireflies continues R.SERRA's exploration of Mexican folklore, ancestral symbolism and the relationship between humanity and the natural world. It is an ode to the matriarchs whose presence endures beyond their own lives, and to the quiet, unwavering light they leave for future generations.
Our Collections
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Paintings
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Hand Embroidered Cushions
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Curated objects
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Homeware
Casa Serra presents The Night of the Fireflies at 33 Great Windmill Street, Soho, London W1D 7LR.
On view 14 October – 19 November 2026 and available to shop at casa-serra.com.
For more information please contact: info@casa-serra.com
