© Francis Alÿs
© Francis Alÿs
© Francis Alÿs
© Francis Alÿs
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“There comes a time when you want to hand over to the next generation,” says artist Francis Alÿs. In 1999 he began to make children playing in countries around the world the stars of his brilliant short movies.
30.10.2025—6.11.2025
MAK Columned Main Hall
A bottle is patiently pushed up a mountain in Mexico City, a car tire races wildly downhill in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. A singing mosquito hunt in a malaria-infested land, a game of hopscotch in Hong Kong during the pandemic, flying kites in Afghanistan, playing at checking passports in the Ukraine—even in the most difficult conditions children play games, everywhere.
Free admission during the MAK’s regular opening hours with a MAK ticket (-20% with the Wien Modern Festival Pass, € 13,20 instead of € 16,50).
A collaboration between the MAK – Museum of Applied Arts and Wien Modern
Free admission during the MAK’s regular opening hours with a MAK ticket (-20% with the Wien Modern Festival Pass, € 13,20 instead of € 16,50).
A collaboration between the MAK – Museum of Applied Arts and Wien Modern
© Francis Alÿs
© Francis Alÿs
© Francis Alÿs
© Francis Alÿs
Previous Image
Francis Alÿs: Children’s Games
Francis Alÿs: Children’s Games. Video series (1999–)
Children’s Game #1: Caracoles (Mexico City, Mexico 1999) – 4:34
Children’s Game #5: Revolver (Baja California, Mexico, 2009) – 2:49
Children’s Game #7: Stick and Wheels (Bamiyan, Afghanistan, 2010) – 5:22
Children’s Game #8: Marbles (Amman, Jordan, 2010) – 2:37
Children’s Game #10: Papalote (Balkh, Afghanistan, 2011) – 4:13
Children’s Game #15: Espejos (Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, 2013) – 4:53
Children’s Game #18: Knucklebones (Kathmandu, Nepal, 2017) – 6:08
Children’s Game #22: Jump Rope (Hong Kong, 2020) – 5:28
Children’s Game #23: Step on a Crack (Hong Kong, 2020) – 4:57
Children’s Game #29: La roue (Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, 2021) – 8:43
Children’s Game #30: Imbu (Tabacongo (Lubumbashi), Democratic Republic of the Congo, 2021) – 4:58
Children’s Game #31: Slakken (Pajottenland, Belgium, 2021) – 5:01
Children’s Game #34: Appelsindans (Copenhagen, Denmark, 2022) – 4:06
Children’s Game #39: Parol (Kharkiv, Ukraine, 2023) – 8:02
Francis Alÿs: Children’s Games. Video series (1999–)
Children’s Game #1: Caracoles (Mexico City, Mexico 1999) – 4:34
Children’s Game #5: Revolver (Baja California, Mexico, 2009) – 2:49
Children’s Game #7: Stick and Wheels (Bamiyan, Afghanistan, 2010) – 5:22
Children’s Game #8: Marbles (Amman, Jordan, 2010) – 2:37
Children’s Game #10: Papalote (Balkh, Afghanistan, 2011) – 4:13
Children’s Game #15: Espejos (Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, 2013) – 4:53
Children’s Game #18: Knucklebones (Kathmandu, Nepal, 2017) – 6:08
Children’s Game #22: Jump Rope (Hong Kong, 2020) – 5:28
Children’s Game #23: Step on a Crack (Hong Kong, 2020) – 4:57
Children’s Game #29: La roue (Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, 2021) – 8:43
Children’s Game #30: Imbu (Tabacongo (Lubumbashi), Democratic Republic of the Congo, 2021) – 4:58
Children’s Game #31: Slakken (Pajottenland, Belgium, 2021) – 5:01
Children’s Game #34: Appelsindans (Copenhagen, Denmark, 2022) – 4:06
Children’s Game #39: Parol (Kharkiv, Ukraine, 2023) – 8:02
Media
Francis Alÿs, short film series Children’s Games Stick and Wheels, Afghanistan, 2010 (photo) © Francis Alÿs © Francis Alÿs
Francis Alÿs, short film series Children’s Games Papalote, Afghanistan, 2011 (film still) © Francis Alÿs © Francis Alÿs
Francis Alÿs, short film series Children’s Games Slakken, Belgium, 2021 (film still) © Francis Alÿs © Francis Alÿs
Francis Alÿs, short film series Children’s Games Appelsindans, Denmark, 2022 (film still) © Francis Alÿs © Francis Alÿs