just talked with francis alÿs, he is doing just fine. after the opening in the
portikus last friday we went with the whole portikus gang and some friends from zürik to the pizzaria salvatori, just around the corner. we watched the agassi's last match and did eat pizza. now you know where to get a good pizza if you ever come to portikus and end up getting hungry afterwards.
the film "a story of deception" which is showing at the portikus, is what you can expect from a magician or master of illusions like francis, i would say. it is almost like a single image which shows a road that loops making you wanting to see something in a mirage like enviroment, bu this road leads to no place. but that action of go back and forth, to loop and never get to any real place have to do with the latinoamerican social reality somehow, as the piece was made in patagonia in a periodo of three year. that is one of the takes on that situation. asia is playing a much important role in the global affairs today.
while talking with fracis i had the impression that he try not to be here, really ( or anywhere by that metter ). in a world that you have to be very present to be accepted by the entertaiment and bussiness part of the art, not an easy task. but here is managing it. (remember what hi did in venice). while he was whatching the agassis last tennis match at the pizzaria i asked him why took so long to
artangel to do something with him. he answered that, they had to wait seven year, from his part to get the project seven walks for london. artangel is doing an interesting job and making the right choinces, even if it means to be patient for several years sometimes.
i actually was sort of surprise with the setting for the presentation of the film, in the portikus. it was projected in the wall of a room build inside of portikus. inside of the room there is a table where a snake and latters game is set. on the table are displayed papers telling about several project of francis. projects like the "politic of rehersal" a very complex project made of three segments. if you have the chance take a look on that one, please do so. in the ende this whole room encluding one painting that was sawed right in the middle vertically,( a hommage to fontana, because he born in patagonia) make the whole room installation a good opportunity to comprehend the complexity of the work of francis, an artist that is beable to work with so many medias and almost nothing.
moost of his works end up being just metaphor.
nikola dietrich, the main curator at the portikus, was telling me that she was inspared, to make this room and assemble the snake and latter game by her trip to buenos aires, where she had the chance to see the exhibition where francis show this work for the firs time at m_a_l_b_a museum de arte latibnoamericano de bueno aires, last april. the very aspect of playfulness in the work of francis came quite clear with the game situation.
some projects of francis
postmedia.netdiacenter.orgefimerointerview (german only)dontmiss it.
