As Einstein famously said: “play is the highest form of research.” Play is how we learn about life and is, in fact part of my art practice.
Francis Alÿs explores the importance and ubiquity of play worldwide in Ricochets, the current exhibition at the Barbican.
Watch videos of games in different countries. Some are easily recognisable: snail racing, hopscotch, skipping, leapfrog while others are less common.
Small paintings of each location complement the films and remind us of the daily living conditions of many of the inhabitants.
Imbu, filmed in the Democratic Republic of Congo, consists of imitating the sound of male mosquitoes then killing the females attracted. Only pregnant female mosquitoes carry malaria so the boys have the satisfaction of reducing the population, if only by a small amount.
Another game I found particularly poignant and highly recommend watching is Haram Football, filmed in Mosul, Iraq. Football was forbidden under the Islamic State so the children devised playing with an imaginary ball. It’s as real to them as an actual object. Watch to the end to see just how dangerous football was considered to be.
All films are public access so you can watch them using this link.