Francis Alÿs

by Francis Alÿs, Russell Ferguson, Cuauhtémoc Medina

Though primarily based in Mexico, Belgian artist Francis Alÿs (b. 1959) is a compulsive wanderer. Gaining international attention in the late 1990s, the works of Francis Alÿs (pronounced ‘ah-leece’) are based on his walks in various locations all over the world. Whether tracing the meandering Green Line in Jerusalem, interceding in the drift of the sand dunes outside in Lima, Peru, or documenting the varieties of people carting their wares around Mexico City, Alÿs examines current socio-political situations in specific urban sites, weaving his own fables into the tangled social fabric via performances, postcards, paintings, sketches, ‘tourist’ videos and a variety of other innovative media. Francis Alÿs is represented by David Zwirner Gallery, 525 W 19th Street, New York 10011, susan@davidzwirner.com and Lisson Gallery, 52-54 Bell Street, London NW1 5DA, contact@lisson.co.uk

Genres: Art, Contemporary, Photography

160 pages, Paperback

First published June 19, 2007

Reviews

[Aileen Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

deze man is mijn allesje #ontmoetinkeulen

[Hans Van Handenhoven · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was introduced to Francis Alys work in a course when I was a student. The workshop was dedicated to flanerie (the art of aimless walking, the importance to get lost). I think the lecturer wanted to make clear to us that not every action had to be one of result. That exploring things could be valuable. And that result may be preceded by much lingering, searching and wandering.

What I love about Alys work is that he places little importance on results. In the world of art, that result is a painting, sculpture, drawing... . Alys is elusive, great art collectors are fond of him, but they cannot own anything of his. He is detached from the snobbery of possession. He sells us ideas, and valuable ones I think.

He makes us think about the futility of tourism. In contrast, he also juxtaposes that with the journey to a better life, immigration. Leaving everything behind and ending up with nothing to start over again.

It is a fantastic book by a great artist.

https://fb.watch/fNzBTICmFd/

[sara manente · Rating 4 out of 5]

maximum effort- minimum result

[Flora Wong · Rating 4 out of 5]

2015/11/28

[cristiana · Rating 4 out of 5]

his exhibit is currently up at the hammer (so if you are in la, go see it!). his accumulation of notes are beautiful - scraps of vellum pieced together, a trail of notes for projects written on grids, loose line drawings w/ the occasional bright color.

in his notes, he wrote - "poetics of rehearsal, politics of rehearsal..." we read this the day that benazir bhutto was assassinated, which somehow made his work - which tries to transcend political and geographical boundaries - a little more profound.

[Egor xS · Rating 4 out of 5]

A decent survey of everyone's favorite artist.

[Mills College Library]

709.2 M4911 2007