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Francis Alÿs
Francis Alÿs
Francis Alÿs is a Belgian-born, Mexico-based artist. Born in 1959 in Antwerp, Belgium, Alÿs originally trained as an architect. He moved to Mexico City in 1986, where he continues to live and work, and it was the confrontation with issues of urbanization and social unrest in his new country of adoption that inspired his decision to become a visual artist. in many of is practices he focuses on cultural histories, urban engagement, and the human impact on the environment. He truly is an inspirational artist, and he pushes the boundaries of what art can be in the modern form. The work he has performed helps people understand different perspectives of the world and also pushes physical limits as well.
Francis Alÿs is great example for "art without borders" because of not only the pieces he has already created but also his use of technology during earlier times. His projects including public actions, installations, video, paintings, and drawings have involved traveling the longest possible route between locations in Mexico and the United States; pushing a melting block of ice through city streets; filming his efforts to enter the center of a tornado; carrying a leaking can of paint along the contested Israel/Palestine border; and equipping hundreds of volunteers to move a colossal sand dune ten centimeters. These are all projects that many people would not think to consider, although, Alÿs is not like every other artist.
Francis Alÿs is a very innovative individual. Most of his blog posts are very technical and imaginitive. The pieces he creates challenge social norms and bring some sort of adventure to the art world. For example, one of his art works on his blog called Tornado, is a picture of him running towards a tornado trying to see what would happen if he entered the center. This is a perfect example of how Alÿs pushed the boundaries of not only how to be an artist, but also, how to use the new methods of technology.
Sometimes Undoing is doing
Sometimes Undoing is doing
Sometimes Undoing is doing is a piece created by Alÿs that shows the action carried out by a British soldier posted to Afghanistan, and on the other by a Taliban combatant. Although both men complete the same task, their motivations, and the context in which they are filmed are different. The piece shows the many sides regarding war and how it affects those on both sides. For example, acts of making and unmaking, working out then dismantling, threatening then slipping away, destroying then rebuilding. This piece is an incredibly powerful piece as it can explain so many messages that society must hear. Alÿs took the risk of going to Afghanistan to understand what it is like to be in a place of war and recorded his piece to describe a possible solution.
There is also the piece of D.O.U.N.D.O. which is Alÿs writing on a paper the words do and undo in a way that makes it seem like there is more than a singular message. He uses technology such vido recording and camera techniques that allow the viewer to experience the art in a unique way.
I chose to create a piece that was inspired by Francis Alÿs' work Sometimes undoing is doing. The piece is called, Unplugged, Untied, Undone. The unplugged electricalcord symbolizes that in a society where we are mostly reliant on the technological world for most of our needs, it is important to step away from the virtual world. The advanced technology that is at our disposal is incredible, but new generations must be becoming more attached to their technological tools, and they forget about what other things life has to offer. The Untied shoe that is drawn represents a link between Francis Alÿs and this piece. Most of the time, people like to see their shoes tied properly, as for this piece, the untied shoe shows that untying your shoes and stepping out of your comfort zone can allow for growth and exploration of new possibilities. Finally, the broken planet represents Undone. With the current environmental issues surrounding the globe, it is important to remember to stay optimistic during these trying times and use solutions such as recycling to increase environmental sustainability. These solutions will ultimately Undo the damage that has already been done toour planet.
The digital revolution has given the art world endless possibilities on how to have their pieces shown to the public. It allows them to expand their ideas by using different tools such as filters, cameras, computers, etc. The use of social media has also given the art world a platform for their work to be seen and appreciated. Overall, the digital revolution has greatly enhanced the work of many artists around the globe.
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