°1959 – Lives and works in Mexico City, Mexico

 

Francis Alÿs was born as Francis De Smedt in Antwerp (Belgium) in 1959. His works consist of performances, videos, drawings, paintings and sculptures, which he created and developed in different cities, such as New York, London, Lima and Jerusalem. Alÿs describes the context of his artistic activities as being ‘political’, but in the Greek meaning of the word polis: the city as a place of awareness and conflict. With simple, ironic and outspoken actions, he studies the influence of art on life in the city.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pictures:

 

1. Re-enactments, 2001, Courtesy MoMa

 

2. Re-enactments, 2001, Courtesy Francis Alÿs