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Francis Alÿs: Ricochets

— ,Art Gallery
children playing jump rope

An immersive exhibition to celebrate the universality and ingenuity of play: Ricochets was the largest institutional show in the UK by internationally renowned artist Francis Alÿs in almost 15 years.

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. 

Tagged with: Art & design

Generously supported by the John S Cohen Foundation, the Delegation of Flanders (Embassy of Belgium) and the Company of Arts Scholars Charitable Trust.

Opening hours

Sat-Wed 10am - 6pm
Thu-Fri 10am - 8pm
Bank Holidays 12pm - 6pm
‘Heart-stopping and frequently beautiful.‘
Guardian
‘It’s beautiful, it’s inventive, it’s necessary.‘
Time Out
‘In these moments of pure absorption, leave the world behind and be liberated.‘
Observer
‘An audiovisual mega-playground.‘
Frieze
‘Compelling‘
Art Review

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Gallery sound levels

Please be aware that the video installation has loud sound levels. Should you or one of your group have specific sensory needs we encourage you to bring either ear defenders or ear plugs with you.  There will be a limited number to borrow on site, please enquire at the Art Gallery Ticket Desk for these. 

Read the exhibition guide

Francis Alÿs

With a career spanning four decades, Alÿs has forged a unique and radical practice ranging from painting and drawing to film and animation. Trained as an architect and urbanist in Tournai, Belgium and Venice, Italy, Alÿs moved to Mexico City in 1986. The rapidly shifting urban context and the consequent changes to social dynamics in the late 1980s inspired him to become a visual artist, developing his early public interventions. Works like Paradox of Praxis 1 (Sometimes Making Something Leads to Nothing), 1997, wherein Alÿs pushed a large block of melting ice through the streets of Mexico City for nine hours, quickly established him as a leading artist of his generation.

Working in collaboration with local communities around the world, his engagement with cross-cultural contexts from Latin America to North Africa and the Middle East operates beyond dominant, Western-centric narratives. What emerges is a lifelong exploration of art as a vehicle for witnessing social and political change.

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Pay What You Can

Tickets purchased for the entry time of between 10am and 11:45am on Mondays, and between 5pm and 7pm on Thursdays are valid for Pay What You Can.

Simply pick the price you can pay and enjoy the exhibition. If you're able to pay £17, you'll be helping to support our Visual Arts programme at the Barbican.

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Francis Alÿs and Rafael Ortega: A Conversation with Children

Kids Aloud

We are taking part in Kids Aloud – when noisy kids are allowed to be loud! 

Join our special drop-in timeslot with Art Fund, where children can be energetic and noisy when exploring our galleries and collections.

Our Kids Aloud timeslot is on Mondays 10:00-12:00. This slot is Pay What You Can, so you can visit our gallery with your children for as little as £3.

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Schools

Entry to the Art Gallery is free for students up to Year 9 (UK), or international equivalents.

A discounted group booking rate of £3 per student is available for older students in formal education groups of more than 10 people, up to the age of 19. 

If you’d like to find out more about our current exhibition, or arrange a school visit, please email groups@barbican.org.uk 

Access

During the run of Francis Alÿs: Ricochets, we have a variety of access resources and information to help support your visit.

If you have any access requirements that you would like to discuss ahead of your visit, please email [email protected] or call 020 7101 1188 (Mon - Sun 10am-4pm).

Wheelchair Access

Francis Alÿs: Ricochets is accessible by the Main Centre Lifts to Level 3. There is a passenger lift (107 x 140cm) inside the gallery to access the upper level.

BSL Tour & Relaxed Viewings

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Visual Story

A visual story of The Gallery can be requested here under the Visual Stories section.

Communication Cards – Pre planning your journey

We have communication cards to help you find your way around the building. We have digital copies you can access and/or print at home as well as printed copies in the Centre available at our info desk on Level G. Please ask a member of staff if you need support locating your nearest pack.

Large Print Exhibition Text

We have large print guides of our exhibition text. These are available both digitally and printed. You can collect a printed version from our invigilator desk at the entrance of The Gallery.

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