Francis Alys
Francis Alÿs (Belgium, 1959) is a conceptual artist based in Mexico City, known for poetic, interdisciplinary works blending performance, video, painting, and drawing. His projects often explore urban dynamics, geopolitical tensions, and the ephemeral nature of everyday life. Iconic works like Paradox of Praxis 1 reflect his profound engagement with labor and futility in modern existence.
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Francis Alys
Untitled (documenta 13), 2012
Photography
Photograph
EUR 590
Francis Alys
Untitled (Salam Tristesse), 2018/2025
Limited Edition Print
Offset Print
EUR 860
Francis Alys
Untitled (Hyde Park), 1999
Photography
Photograph
Currently Not Available
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I have no problem twisting the facts if it's the only way I can be true to the moment.
- Francis Alÿs
- Francis Alÿs
Francis Alÿs (b. 1959 Belgium) is a conceptual artist known for his interventions and performative actions that blur the boundaries between art and everyday life. Working across a range of mediums including painting, video, and installation, Alÿs often engages with themes of politics, urbanization, and social phenomena. His works are frequently site-specific, with notable projects set in locations such as Mexico City, where he has resided for much of his career. Influenced by Surrealism and the Situationist International, Alÿs's art is characterized by a poetic sensibility and a critical approach to contemporary issues. His interventions, such as "The Green Line" in Jerusalem or "When Faith Moves Mountains" in Lima, question the absurdity of political and social boundaries. Alÿs’s practice reveals the complexities of daily life, inviting viewers to reflect on the nuances of human experience. (Artist website)
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Sometimes referred to as Conceptualism, this is an art form where the idea(s) or concept(s) behind the work take precedence over material concerns and traditional aesthetics. Many conceptual artworks can be created by anyone simply by following written instructions. The concept or idea is the most essential aspect of the artwork.
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