Peter Kilchmann, Zurich (acquired directly from the artist) BFAMI Gala Charity Auction, Phillips de Pury, London, 16 November 2011 Acquired at the above sale by the present owner
Exhibited
London, Tate Modern; Wiels, Brussels; New York, The Museum of Modern Art, Francis Alÿs: A Story of Deception, 15 June 2010–1 August 2011
Literature
The Vincent Award: The Vincent Van Gogh Biennial Award for Contemporary Art in Europe 2008, exh.cat, Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam, 2008, n.p.
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.
numbered '#79' upper right; signed and dated 'FAlys 2008' on the reverse of the tracing paper numbered '79' on a sticker affixed to the leg of the sculpture painted wood, metal, plastic, film reels, film and pencil on tracing paper tracing paper 90.8 x 122.2 cm (35 3/4 x 48 1/8 in.) sculpture 50.1 x 42.1 x 101.4 cm (19 3/4 x 16 5/8 x 39 7/8 in.) Executed in 2008.
