THE COLLECTOR (FRANCIS ALYS)

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Visible Science: (Magnet) A body that attracts metal by virtue of a surrounding force field produced by the motion of electrons from the positive to the negative poles (south and north).

Context: Political in the Greek sense of polis, the city as a site of sensations and conflicts whence the materials to create fictions, art and urban myths are extracted.

Process: For an indeterminate period of time, the magnetised collector takes a daily walk through the streets and gradually builds up a coat made of metallic residue lying in its path. This process goes on until the collector is completely smothered by its trophies.

Godfrey, Biesenbach and Greenberg (eds) (2010) Francis Alys: A Story of Deception. London: Tate Publishing, p.50-51