Francis Alÿs: The Politics of Rehearsal

The Politics of Rehearsal accompanies the first large-scale American museum exhibit on Francis Al s, one of the most acclaimed artists working today. The centerpiece of the book is Al s' Rehearsal (Ensayo) series, but a number of related earlier works are included. "Ensayo 1, 1999-2000" shows a red Volkswagen Beetle attempting to ascend a steep hill in Tijuana: its attempts are synchronized with the sound track of Mexican danzon musicians rehearsing. "Ensayo 2, 2005" follows the rehearsal of a dancer practicing a striptease, and "Ensayo 3" will be produced by Al s specifically for the exhibition. Other works include "When Faith Moves Mountains" and "Song for Lupita," as well as many paintings, photographs and drawings. This significant new publication contains a DVD and an in-depth exploration of Al s's oeuvre by Russell Ferguson, organizer of the exhibition, focusing on the theme of rehearsal, which is so characteristic of Al s' work.