Children at play
What do you think is so special about children at play? Watch these two films by artist Francis Alÿs, or watch more. What did you think of them? How did you feel watching them?
Children's Games
Artist Francis Alÿs has been filming children at play from all over the world for twenty years. The short documentaries Children’s Games were previously featured in our comprehensive exhibition on Alÿs. In this Short for kids, children discover Alÿs’s cinematic art, become inspired, and create their own film.
Watch Children’s Game #12: Sillas (Francis Alÿs, MX 2012)
Francis Still from Children's Game #12 (Francis Alÿs, MX 2012)
Watch Children’s Game #18: Knucklebones (Francis Alÿs, NP 2017)
still from Children's Game #18 (Francis Alÿs, NP 2017)
Why film children at play? Francis Alÿs had a very special reason: he wanted to show how marvellous ordinary things can be. Like children at play and the games they invent.
Assignment: make your own film about games
Many of the children’s games are very old, nobody knows who first invented them. Take the game of musical chairs in Alÿs’s film. By filming this game, Alÿs makes sure the games children play are documented and will not be forgotten.
Which games do you play that you want to be remembered? Hopscotch on the pavement? Rock paper scissors? A game you made up yourself? Take your smartphone and make a film together while you’re playing, or film your brother(s) and sister(s). Make sure you get a good view of the game you’re playing, just like Alÿs does.
Share your film with us!
Would you like to share your film with the rest of the world? Put it on social media using #kortvoorkids and tag @eye_film.
credits
Short for Kids is created by Taartrovers and Eye Filmmuseum's educational team.
Film credits
Children's Game #12: Sillas (Francis Alÿs, MX 2012)
Children’s Game #18: Knucklebones (Francis Alÿs, NP 2017)
Film theme
Cinematic art
Ages
8-12