MIF25: Football City, Art United. at Aviva Studios

Art and football may seem like an unlikely match but one with plenty of potential. Especially when it happens in Manchester, a city with a burning passion for both of these disciplines, even if one is favoured over the other, just a little bit.

MIF25 presents Football City, Art United, a project that pairs artists with footballers in a playful combo of imagination and creativity, on and off the pitch. Inspired by the ‘trequartista’ position (a midfielder who is creative enough to always be a few steps ahead), it brings together 11 pairs of artists and footballers to produce multimedia works for a unique group exhibition.

Football City, Art United was conceived by World Cup and Champions League winner Juan Mata; one of the world’s most famous art curators Hans Ulrich Obrist; and writer and filmmaker Josh Willdigg. Mata actually returns to MIF this year, having previously worked with artist Tino Sehgal on This Entry in 2023. Boundaries blur between the fields of art and football as the trio take a closer look at what they can learn from one other.

The artist-footballer pairings promise a whole host of audio-visual experiences, from explorations of football and gender through film (Suzanne Lacy, Vivianne Miedema and Ali Riley) to a more light-hearted look at the effects of fame on players (Ryan Gander and Eric Cantona).

Ex-footballer and photographic artist Edgar Davids collaborates with sculptor and video artist Paul Pfeiffer to create an immersive tunnel installation. The piece explores the moments of heightened tension and personal rituals experienced by the players in the moments between the dressing room and football pitch.

Artist Rose Wylie teams up with Arsenal and England defender Lotte Wubben-Moy in an image exchange. Both sharing a passion for drawing, the project sees Wubben-Moy provide images and inspirations for Wylie’s reinterpretations.

Football would not be the same without the community that surrounds it, an aspect explored by artist Alvaro Barrington and Brazilian footballer Raí. Mexican artist and fashion designer Bárbara Sánchez-Kane works with Mexico goalkeeper Jorge Campos on a work inspired by the neomayan architecture of Manuel Amábilis. Campos’ legendary vibrant kits, goalkeeping style and love of surfing are also informing the final piece.

As well as the pairs, there’s a trio too: architect Stefano Boeri, footballer Sandro Mazzola and artist Eduardo Terrazas come together to transform the gallery into The Playmaker, a playable installation that consists of pods, tunnels and footballs.

Japanese manga artist  Chikyuu no Osakana Ponchan works with former Manchester United player Shinji Kagawa to tell the footballer’s story.

Philippe Parreno and Marco Perego’s video game Forget the Ball and Keep Playing invites guests from around the world to sketch floor plans of their childhood homes and neighbourhoods. In this edition, the game focuses on the personal geography of actress and Pergo’s wife – Zoe Saldaña.

Digital artist collective Keiken come together with Ella Toone to create a piece that explores the footballer’s unique perspective, motivations and love for the sport. In another duo, artist Jill Mulleady draws on her memories of meeting legendary Argentinian player Diego Maradonna, returning to Maradona’s La Mano de Dios (Hand of God), one of the most iconic, and controversial, moments in football history.

As well as an array of works, from sound and digital installations to paintings and drawings, the final exhibition features 11 video screens revealing the creative process of each pair. These behind-the-scenes films showcase the global nature of the project, with footage from Paris, Los Angeles, São Paolo and anywhere in between.

Football City, Art United. is an exhibition that joyously transcends boundaries between two very different worlds, coming together for a wonderfully unique cultural experience.

Take a look at the website to book your tickets now. Under 16s go free!