Francis Alÿs in collaboration with Antonio Fernández Ros, Julien Devaux, Félix Blume and Kars’ teenagers
Comissionated by the 14 Istanbul Biennial
Ani, a city on the Turkish-Armenian border, lies today in a state of total abandon, after centuries of successive invasions. Alÿs gave instruments to imitate birds to a bunch of teens from the surrounding villages. The kids entered the city walls, called the birds and create the illusion that the city comes back to life.