francis alys . . .

Francis Alÿs was born in Belgium in 1959 and trained as an architect/urbanist before re-locating to Mexico City in 1986, where he has been based ever since. He is best known for his actions which he documents in various ways. Some just involve him walking through the city; other actions are epic events set in dramatic landscapes involving hundreds of participants. Alÿs also works with painting, animation and drawing, and many of the images he creates have a dreamlike surreal quality. His actions are frequently humorous, often transient, and can sometimes seem absurd, but they are always concise and carefully planned. Alÿs is interested to show and deal with his work through unconventional means.

Silencio, 2003 – present
Rubber carpets 61 x 47,8 x 06, cm (each)
Courtesy the artist and Galerie Peter Kilchmann, Zurich
Installation featuring a floor covered in multicolored rubber mats showing an image of a finger being pressed to lips.