Eric Cantona, Edgar Davids and Ella Toone among footballers creating work for exhibition Football City, Art United which opens next month as part of Manchester’s International Festival
The exhibition features newly created artworks by 11 pairings of internationally renowned artists and footballers as they step into each other’s creative fields to explore what art and football can learn from each other.
From interactive play arenas and sound installations to manga and sculpture, Football City, Art United. expands the worlds of art and football and the cultural contributions both make to our daily lives. A wall of vertical video screens will showcase the journeys that the artists and footballers have been on to create the work, offering audiences a behind-the-scenes look into the making of the exhibition.
One of the works sees British conceptual artist Ryan Gander and the French footballer, actor, musician and Manchester United icon Eric Cantona explore the effects of fame on players.
Their work Privileges of Hindsight is comprised of three distinct parts; an automated spotlight that will randomly select and follow an audience member as they make their way through the exhibition, casting them in the isolating glare of celebrity; Le Temps Passe, a song written by Cantona and translated into English from French, will play at set intervals; and a limited number of match tickets from Cantona’s final Premier League appearance for Manchester United at Old Trafford in 1997 will be handed out to every 100th visitor, each inscribed with a message written by Cantona.
Another work will see The Berlin and London-based artist collective Keiken team up with Manchester United and England star Ella Toone to explore what football means to her.
Visitors are invited to step onto a podium and ‘wear’ a large hanging mask inspired by Toone’s spirit animal, the Shetland pony. When wearing the mask they will hear Toone discussing life on and off the pitch, including her thoughts on fate, connection, routine and the importance of self-reflecting as we go through changes in life.
Low Kee Hong, Creative Director of Factory International and MIF, said:
“Football City, Art United. brings together a full team of 11 pairings of footballers and artists. Sometimes playful, sometimes thought-provoking, in this exhibition Juan Mata, Hans Ulrich Obrist and Josh Willdigg have created a space for footballers and artists to get to know each others’ very unique worlds, and in doing so create new works that give audiences insight into both.”
Juan Mata, Footballer and Co-Curator, said:
“Working with Tino Seghal as part of Manchester International Festival 2023 was an incredible experience, and I wanted more footballers to have the chance to work with artists. The result is the work in this exciting group show. The worlds of football and art can both be beautiful, complicated and powerful; something that is explored through these collaborations. We can’t wait for people to experience Football Art, City United. a real collaboration of two worlds.
