Francis Alys (Contemporary Artists (Phaidon))

- The work of Francis Alÿs (b.1959) blurs the boundaries between the artist and the subject
- This is the first comprehensive monograph on the artist's diverse body of work
- He employs a range of media - including painting, video and other more unorthodox materials - in innovative takes on observation, participation and performance
- Alÿs's work stems from his interest in the powers that shape urban existence, as well as the innovative schemes that individuals devise to subvert them
- Alÿs invents his own fables, weaving them into the social fabric of such cities as Venice, London and Mexico City, his home for nearly 20 years
- Alÿs's work has been included in the world's top international exhibitions, including the Venice Biennale (2001), the Carnegie International (2004) and the Sao Paulo Biennial (2004)