Francis Alys Ricochets (2024)

Over the previous two decades, Alÿs travelled around the world to film the critically acclaimed series Children’s Games: from ‘musical chairs’ in Mexico, to ‘leapfrog’ in Iraq, ‘jump rope’ in Hong Kong, and ‘wolf and lamb’ in Afghanistan.

Ricochets transformed our gallery into a cinematic playground: throughout the exhibition, visitors were immersed in multi-screen film installations focussing on children’s games. Since 1999, Alÿs has recorded children at play in different contexts and environments around the globe. Alongside the first presentation of Children’s Games in the UK, the exhibition debuted a new body of animated films depicting both traditional and lesser-known hand games played by children and adults alike.