FOOOOTBALLLL
Land art installation, group performance
2010-2018

FOOOOTBALLLL is a land art installation coming in the shape of outdoors game.

The shape of the FOOOOTBALLLL pitch is achieved from the basis of the original football field to which perpendicularly is added a second identical one. The ball remains one, the new configuration of the game results in the number of teams being doubled and there are now four goal lines instead of two. The possibilities to score are tripled as are the number of opponents. The level of difficulty is increased but so are the opportunities. The original rules of the game remain, but new strategies can be applied.

The question: “Why four teams?” is always hovering in the air when FOOOOTBALLLL is discussed. The originality of the design, the mixture of familiar and strange in the setup of the game creates new challenges for the participants. The participants and viewers are strongly encouraged to perceive the game beyond the original and see it as metaphor for life and focus on the multiple opportunities and fearlessly face the numerous difficulties accompanying them. Playing FOOOOTBALLLL questions metaphorically individual positioning in society, choices, social interactivity and exchanges, and provokes new realms of communication and competition.

The first ever FOOOOTBALLLL land art installation was created in Citadela park in Poznan in September 2012 as the field overall size estimated 90 by 90 meters. The first FOOOOTBALLLL group performance was between four local amateur football teams. The project was produced in cooperation with Nastawnia Assosiation and included in the accompanying program of Mediations Biennale, Poznan. Later in 2012, the first ever FOOOOTBALLLL on a stadium was created in Plovdiv, Bulgaria as the overall size of the land art estimated 65 by 65 meters. The group performance was between the four football teams of the city of Plovdiv: Botev, Lokomotiv, Spartak and Maritsa. The project was included in the program of the project Urban Dreams curated by Emil Mirazchiev.  

In September, 2017 the FOOOOTBALLLL concept was realised in cooperation with Lieux publics - centre national de creation en espace public as part of the program of the Festival Travellings 2017 at Stade de l’Oasis, Marseille, France and with the special participation of the actor Mohamed Guellati as a commentator of the performance. For a first time on a hard ground surface with overall size of the FOOOOTBALLLL pitch 60 x 60 m. For a first time with tailor-made teams with especially designed team names, describing what the players have in common: les intrEPIDEs, yes we CANE!, les extraNORDinaires, les AILLEURopeenS. New game schedule was introduced as well, 4 quarters instead of 2 halves. This time the commentator of the performance was an actor and the performance was broad casted live on radio Grenouille. Like never before a FOOOOTBALLLL cup was awarded. Short fim by Lieux publics can be viewed online.

2018 turned out to be a FOOOOTBALLLL year. Altogether three performances took place in April 2018 at Claude-Béal Stadium in Montpellier, France as part of ZAT 12 (Zone Artistique Temporaire), again with breathtaking performance of the actor and theatre director Mohamed Guellati as a FOOOOTBALLLL commentator. A month later in May,  FOOOOTBALLLL landed at a beautiful meadow (Brunnenwiese) near the city centre in Detmold, Germany as part of the program of the street theatre festival 'Bildstörung', where suspense and dramatic experiences ruled through the three FOOOOTBALLLL performances. A wedding ring was lost, the mayor of the city scored a goal and one the  FOOOOTBALLLL/Bildstörung Cups ended in the graveyard honouring the father of the captain of one of the winning teams.

On 2nd of August  2018 Gruabn stadium in Graz, Austria, long-standing home stadium of  SK Sturm Graz hosted FOOOOTBALLLL as part of the La Strada festival. A new approach towards the choice of performers was introduced. The four teams were formed respectively of local politicians, journalists, workers in the field of culture and migrants. Two commentators of the game and a life band complemented and enhanced the performance on the FOOOOTBALLLL pitch.

Obviously France can not get enough of FOOOOTBALLLL, as five more FOOOOTBALLLLs at three different stadiums took place in October 2018 produced in cooperation with Nouvelle Scène Nationale, Cergy-Pontoise/Val D’oise. 

FOOOOTBALLLL in relation to the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup in France took place in Rennes in July 2019 as part of the festival Les Tombées de la Nuit. Some photo and video impressions are available on the festival web site.