--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Can that make any sense - a Belgian…" description: "\"Can that make any sense - a Belgian artist living in Mexico and working in Afghanistan?\" — Francis Alys" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/887/francis-alys-48112_afghanistan_can-that-make-any-sense-a-belgian-artist_1602962.jpg" --- # Can that make any sense - a Belgian artist living in… ![“Can that make any sense - a Belgian artist living in Mexico and working in Afghanistan?” quote by Francis Alys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/887/francis-alys-48112_afghanistan_can-that-make-any-sense-a-belgian-artist_1602962.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/887/francis-alys-48112_afghanistan_can-that-make-any-sense-a-belgian-artist_1602962.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/887/francis-alys-48112_afghanistan_can-that-make-any-sense-a-belgian-artist_1602962.jpg) > “Can that make any sense - a Belgian artist living in Mexico and working in Afghanistan?” [Francis Alys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-alys/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A paradoxical identity clash highlights cultural dissonance and absurdity **In simple terms:** A Belgian artist in Mexico working in Afghanistan seems absurd Key Takeaway Question assumptions about cultural fit Themes identity culture absurdity Mood confused ironic Type critical observational When to use this quote - media interviews - art exhibitions - cross‑cultural projects - political commentary Key Concepts globalization artistic identity Questions to Reflect On - What does this juxtaposition reveal about cultural stereotypes? - How might such contradictions inspire creative work? A Different Perspective May overlook genuine artistic intent ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Afghanistan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afghanistan/) [Any](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/any/) [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Artist Living](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist-living-1602627/) [Belgian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belgian-476124/) [Belgian Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belgian-artist-6099706/) [Living](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/living/) [Make](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make/) [Mexico](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mexico/) [Mexico Working](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mexico-working-6099708/) [Sense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sense/) [Working](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/working/) [Working Afghanistan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/working-afghanistan-6099707/) ## Related quotes > [I am not a follower of Monet. I am not an admirer or follower of De Kooning. I am not an action painter. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-resnick/i-am-not-a-follower-of-monet-i-am-not-an-admirer-or-follower-of-de/) [Milton Resnick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-resnick/) > [I am an artist at living - my work of art is my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-t-suzuki/i-am-an-artist-at-living-my-work-of-art-is-my-life/) [D.T. Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-t-suzuki/) > [Leonard de Vinci, for example, is a great artist, but he is living in the past. However, I don't feel John Cage and Matsuzawa…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasumasa-morimura/leonard-de-vinci-for-example-is-a-great-artist-but-he-is-living-in/) [Yasumasa Morimura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasumasa-morimura/) > [“An actual artist, living right under her nose.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garth-risk-hallberg/an-actual-artist-living-right-under-her-nose/) [Garth Risk Hallberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garth-risk-hallberg/) > [Being an artist for my well being and as a living, I live in a place of observance and interest in what I consider…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-boyd/being-an-artist-for-my-well-being-and-as-a-living-i-live-in-a-place/) [Brandon Boyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-boyd/) > [To be the first Belgian to play for Liverpool is a big thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-mignolet/to-be-the-first-belgian-to-play-for-liverpool-is-a-big-thing/) [Simon Mignolet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-mignolet/) > [There has been corruption in the Belgian civil service and at government level for decades. The Royal family do what they can to hold…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-royle/there-has-been-corruption-in-the-belgian-civil-service-and-at/) [Nicholas Royle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-royle/) > [I was raised in Brussels as a Belgian but, at the same time, feeling that I wasn't necessarily from here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stromae/i-was-raised-in-brussels-as-a-belgian-but-at-the-same-time-feeling/) [Stromae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stromae/) > [The Belgian fans know who I am and what I am worth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thorgan-hazard/the-belgian-fans-know-who-i-am-and-what-i-am-worth/) [Thorgan Hazard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thorgan-hazard/) > [When I arrived in the Belgian league people often said 'that's Eden's brother.' Now I get less of that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thorgan-hazard/when-i-arrived-in-the-belgian-league-people-often-said-that-s-eden-s/) [Thorgan Hazard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thorgan-hazard/) > [The way to my heart is through Belgian milk chocolate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-donoghue/the-way-to-my-heart-is-through-belgian-milk-chocolate/) [Emma Donoghue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-donoghue/) > [My parents are both Belgian-born, and so am I, actually. I'm bilingual, so I had experience with French.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celine-buckens/my-parents-are-both-belgian-born-and-so-am-i-actually-i-m-bilingual/) [Celine Buckens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celine-buckens/) > [I wanted to be the best footballer in Belgian history. That was my goal. Not good. Not great. The best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romelu-lukaku/i-wanted-to-be-the-best-footballer-in-belgian-history-that-was-my/) [Romelu Lukaku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romelu-lukaku/) > [Who doesn't like a nice Belgian waffle?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-ertz/who-doesn-t-like-a-nice-belgian-waffle/) [Zach Ertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-ertz/) > [The Belgian fans expect a lot of me in the Belgium team. It is normal - they don't forget that I cost Euros 40m.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eden-hazard/the-belgian-fans-expect-a-lot-of-me-in-the-belgium-team-it-is-normal/) [Eden Hazard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eden-hazard/) ## More by Francis Alys > [We've lost control of this planet somewhere. There's an echo in that kind of tornado situation, where you're powerless facing those phenomena.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-alys/we-ve-lost-control-of-this-planet-somewhere-there-s-an-echo-in-that/) [Francis Alys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-alys/) > [What I can't tell with a photo I will tell with a painting, and what I can't tell with a painting I will tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-alys/what-i-can-t-tell-with-a-photo-i-will-tell-with-a-painting-and-what-i/) [Francis Alys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-alys/) > [Formulating the proposal is about 80% of the actual time of the process. In the end, the time spent filming, editing and postproduction is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-alys/formulating-the-proposal-is-about-80-of-the-actual-time-of-the/) [Francis Alys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-alys/) > [In the eye of the tornado, there's no more high and low, no floor and sky.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-alys/in-the-eye-of-the-tornado-there-s-no-more-high-and-low-no-floor-and/) [Francis Alys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-alys/) > [I am always fascinated by the way kids create their own world. That is something I am very attentive to anywhere I go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-alys/i-am-always-fascinated-by-the-way-kids-create-their-own-world-that-is/) [Francis Alys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-alys/) > [I am interested in seeing how a certain situation can develop with potential accidents. First, I am inspired by the acts of potential collaborators.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-alys/i-am-interested-in-seeing-how-a-certain-situation-can-develop-with/) [Francis Alys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-alys/) > [I have no problem twisting the facts if it's the only way I can be true to the moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-alys/i-have-no-problem-twisting-the-facts-if-it-s-the-only-way-i-can-be/) [Francis Alys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-alys/) [Explore all 8 Francis Alys quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-alys/) ## More Afghanistan quotes > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [From the bitter cold winter at Valley Forge, to the mountains of Afghanistan and the deserts of Iraq, our soldiers have courageously answered when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solomon-ortiz/from-the-bitter-cold-winter-at-valley-forge-to-the-mountains-of/) [Solomon Ortiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/solomon-ortiz/) > [The rich people are apparently leaving America. They're giving up their citizenship. These great lovers of America who made their money in this country-when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/the-rich-people-are-apparently-leaving-america-they-re-giving-up/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [They're criminals, they brutalized Afghanistan, they killed our people, they destroyed our land.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hamid-karzai/they-re-criminals-they-brutalized-afghanistan-they-killed-our-people/) [Hamid Karzai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hamid-karzai/) > [In 2001, we were told that the war in Afghanistan was a feminist mission. The marines were liberating Afghan women from the Taliban. Can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/in-2001-we-were-told-that-the-war-in-afghanistan-was-a-feminist/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [The terrorist attacks of September 11th and the courageous actions of our armed forces in Afghanistan and Iraq remind us that friends of tyranny…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-levin/the-terrorist-attacks-of-september-11th-and-the-courageous-actions-of/) [Carl Levin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-levin/) > [According to a recent Harvard study, $6 trillion, when you include the ongoing healthcare expenses for our wounded soldiers, which is the least they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/according-to-a-recent-harvard-study-6-trillion-when-you-include-the/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [You don't bargain with terrorists. You don't appease terrorists. And anybody who believes that this is about something we've done has to ask themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chertoff/you-don-t-bargain-with-terrorists-you-don-t-appease-terrorists-and/) [Michael Chertoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chertoff/) > [“I stood with my mom in the cemetery. She felt terrible pain. My grandmother is with God. My mom has to continue living. It’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tucker-elliot/i-stood-with-my-mom-in-the-cemetery-she-felt-terrible-pain-my/) [Tucker Elliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tucker-elliot/) > [The most successful cultural diplomacy strategy integrates people-to-people or arts/culture/media-to-people interactions into the basic business of diplomacy. The programs in Afghanistan, Egypt, and Iran…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-p-schneider/the-most-successful-cultural-diplomacy-strategy-integrates-people-to/) [Cynthia P. Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-p-schneider/) > [Because Iran understands Afghanistan far better than Americans do, making Iran a partner in a long-term effort to transform Afghan agriculture makes sense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-kinzer/because-iran-understands-afghanistan-far-better-than-americans-do/) [Stephen Kinzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-kinzer/) > [Thousands of Americans have given their lives in Afghanistan and Iraq upholding their oaths and defending this nation. Chelsea Manning broke her oath and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/thousands-of-americans-have-given-their-lives-in-afghanistan-and-iraq/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [I have been to Afghanistan many times, even before the Taliban collapsed. I was fascinated by the country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kabir-khan/i-have-been-to-afghanistan-many-times-even-before-the-taliban/) [Kabir Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kabir-khan/) > [There has been sort of, if you will, a moral interventionism on the part of the United States trying to reshape countries in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-buchanan/there-has-been-sort-of-if-you-will-a-moral-interventionism-on-the/) [Pat Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-buchanan/) > [The legal system in Afghanistan is very immature and porous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsey-graham/the-legal-system-in-afghanistan-is-very-immature-and-porous/) [Lindsey Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsey-graham/) [Browse all 1,159 Afghanistan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afghanistan/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Can that make any sense - a Belgian artist living in Mexico and working in Afghanistan?", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Francis Alys" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-alys/can-that-make-any-sense-a-belgian-artist-living-in-mexico-and-working/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Afghanistan" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-alys/can-that-make-any-sense-a-belgian-artist-living-in-mexico-and-working/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/887/francis-alys-48112_afghanistan_can-that-make-any-sense-a-belgian-artist_1602962.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/887/francis-alys-48112_afghanistan_can-that-make-any-sense-a-belgian-artist_1602962.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/887/francis-alys-48112_afghanistan_can-that-make-any-sense-a-belgian-artist_1602962.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Can that make any sense - a Belgian artist living in Mexico and working in Afghanistan?” — Francis Alys", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Francis Alys", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-alys/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Can that make any sense -...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-alys/can-that-make-any-sense-a-belgian-artist-living-in-mexico-and-working/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-alys/can-that-make-any-sense-a-belgian-artist-living-in-mexico-and-working/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```