Alexandre Callay challenges Catherine Francblin's assessment of Francis Alÿs

Alexandre Callay sent a letter to art press responding to Catherine Francblin's article that called Francis Alÿs a 'major artist of today.' Callay argues that Alÿs is not a major artist because his works remain within 20th-century paradigms, failing to break the fourth wall of the 'other' or transcend classical theatrical unities of time, place, and action. Callay contrasts Alÿs with Alberto Sorbelli, whom he credits with creating a new paradigm through continuous, multi-location actions that engage the real and reveal participants to themselves. Callay cites Sorbelli's works like 'Tentative de rapport avec un chef d'oeuvre' and 'Chanson d'Amour' as examples of art that operates beyond the limits of theater and spectacle. He also references the collapse of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, as a moment that halted the race for spectacular art. Callay mentions that television has already adopted the ATAWAD (Any Time, Any Where, Any Device) concept, while art lags behind. He concludes that Alÿs is singular but not major, whereas Sorbelli has defined a new paradigm over nearly 20 years.