The rules of the game: Francis Alÿs creative process and design methodology

Best known for his political and poetic performances and for his short films, Francis Alÿs (1959, Antwerp, living and working in Mexico City) has often and in several places demonstrated to assign value to the creative process which underlies his work as an artist. In some cases, the modernist and functionalist idea of design and planning is challenged and becomes the very theme of his artworks. At other times, the works take on a hermeneutic meaning with respect to their medial quality. Often, documents and materials produced during the design phases – such as the sketches, drawings and notes contained in his notebooks – are exhibited and published. Moreover, Alÿs employs this content to craft a narrative that unfolds on social media platforms. ,e essay proposes to highlight Alÿs creative process and aims to describe his design methodology by presenting his research and two emblematic case studies: the performance The Modern Procession (2002) and the short film series Children’s Games (1999-ongoing).