Alys, Francis | Untitled (Salam Tristesse), 2018/2025 — available on Composition Gallery

Color offsetp rint on Olin Regular Paper 300g/m2, from the series ’ Salam Tristesse ‘ (referring to Françoise Sagan’s book Bonjour Tristesse). Signed on label verso, unnumbered limited edition.

Francis Alÿs’ Untitled (Salam Tristesse) (2018/2025) is a color offset print from the series Salam Tristesse, a title that references Françoise Sagan’s novel Bonjour Tristesse. The composition depicts a solitary kneeling figure surrounded by concentric circular lines that spread outward like ripples or a meditative labyrinth. Rendered in muted tones with a soft, almost faded texture, the image evokes introspection, isolation, and emotional stillness. Alÿs often works through simple gestures and poetic imagery to address themes of displacement, vulnerability, and human experience. Here, the circular structure becomes both physical and psychological space, suggesting contemplation, repetition, and the quiet tension between inner thought and the surrounding world.

Francis Alÿs (Belgium, 1959) is a conceptual artist based in Mexico City, known for poetic, interdisciplinary works blending performance, video, painting, and drawing. His projects often explore urban dynamics, geopolitical tensions, and the ephemeral nature of everyday life. Iconic works like Paradox of Praxis 1 reflect his profound engagement with labor and futility in modern existence.

Francis Alys

Untitled (Salam Tristesse), 2018/2025

Name: Untitled (Salam Tristesse), 2018/2025
SKU: 17538
Price: 860.00 EUR
Availability: InStock

Form

Limited Edition Print

Limited Edition PrintA limited edition print is one of a number of prints made at the same time from one printmaking plate. A fixed number are made and signed by the artist, indicating the printing order, using the format 1/10, meaning first of ten prints.

Medium

Offset Print

Offset PrintOffset lithography is a printing technique where the inked image is first transferred (offset) from a plate to a rubber blanket and then to the printing surface. This method combines the lithographic process, which relies on the repulsion of water and oil, to keep non-printing areas ink-free by attracting a water-based film. Offset lithography was originally developed to reduce costs in reproducing artwork and is widely used for high-volume printing due to its efficiency and ability to produce sharp, consistent images.

Edition

Edition of unknown size

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●Inventory 17538

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I have no problem twisting the facts if it's the only way I can be true to the moment.

- Francis Alÿs

Francis Alÿs (b. 1959 Belgium) is a conceptual artist known for his interventions and performative actions that blur the boundaries between art and everyday life. Working across a range of mediums including painting, video, and installation, Alÿs often engages with themes of politics, urbanization, and social phenomena. His works are frequently site-specific, with notable projects set in locations such as Mexico City, where he has resided for much of his career. Influenced by Surrealism and the Situationist International, Alÿs's art is characterized by a poetic sensibility and a critical approach to contemporary issues. His interventions, such as "The Green Line" in Jerusalem or "When Faith Moves Mountains" in Lima, question the absurdity of political and social boundaries. Alÿs’s practice reveals the complexities of daily life, inviting viewers to reflect on the nuances of human experience. (Artist website)

Artwork by Bruce Nauman

What is Process Art?

Process Art is an artistic movement and creative approach where the focus is on the act of creation rather than the final product. The term process in this context refers to the various stages of art-making, including gathering, sorting, associating, and organizing materials and actions. This movement emphasizes the artistic journey and the human expression involved in creating art, rather than the finished piece itself. Process Art is driven by inherent motivation, intentionality, and the rationale behind the actions, viewing the creative process as the true artwork.

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Francis Alys