Francis Alÿs - Contemporary Art Day Sale London Wednesday, October 16, 2013 | Phillips

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  • Provenance

    Acquired directly from the artist

  • Artist Biography

    Francis Alÿs

    Belgian / Mexican • 1959

    Born in Belgium, Francis Alÿs traveled to Mexico in 1986 as part of a French program to assist in the aftermath of the tragic 1985 earthquake, and has lived there ever since. Throughout his career, the artist has analyzed facets of everyday urban life using a variety of media including video, drawing, installation and public action. Sign Painting Project (1993-'97) is a prime example of the artist's interest in the sprawling urbanization of Mexico City. In this early series, Alÿs drew inspiration from professional Mexican sign painters (rotúlistas) who painted large billboard advertisements throughout the city. In response to these large colorful compositions, Alÿs employed a similar style in creating small-scale paintings of familiar objects and places.  Alÿs asked various rotúlistas to copy and enlarge his paintings, displaying his work and that of the rotúlista side-by-side. This series, like many of Alÿs' other works, illustrates the artist's concerns with such themes as collaboration, banality and originality.

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182

AMZ Presidente Figueiredo

1995
paint and pastel on wood
14.6 x 20.6 cm. (5 3/4 x 8 1/8 in.)
Titled and dated 'AMZ PRESIDENTE FIGUEIREDO AUG15 1995' along lower edge; dedicated 'FOR KURT FRANCIS, BAROA AMIZADE' on the reverse.

Estimate
£30,000 - 40,000 ‡♠

Contact Specialist
Henry Highley
Head of Sale
hhighley@phillips.com
+ 44 20 7318 4061

Contemporary Art Day Sale

London 17 October 2013