The exhibition is being brought to life by former United player Juan Mata as part of Manchester International Festival
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Edgar Davids, Manchester International Festival 2025 launch
Edgar Davids, Manchester International Festival 2025 launch
(Image: Kenny Brown | Manchester Evening News)
This summer, fans of the beautiful game will soon be able to immerse themselves in the minds of some of the world's biggest football stars as part of an interactive exhibition taking over Aviva Studios.
As part of Manchester International Festival's 2025 edition, former Manchester United footballer Juan Mata will present the next stage of his football-inspired art project, which he first launched two years ago. The interactive art installation will see football legends Eric Cantona, Edgar Davids and Ella Toone paired with artits.
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Football City, Art United began at MIF23 as The Trequartista - Art and Football United. It featured a world premiere of Tino Sehgal's playful performance piece This entry at the National Football Museum, made in collaboration with Juan Mata.
Now called Football City, Art United, the group exhibition at Aviva Studios will pair 11 artists and footballs to create new works. Renowned curator and Serpentine Artistic Director Hans Ulrich Obrist and writer Josh Willdigg have collaborated with Mata on the large-scale exhibition.
From interactive play arenas and sound installations to animation and sculpture, Football City, Art United will expand the worlds of art and football and the cultural contributions both make to our daily lives.
Footballer and co-curator Juan Mata said: "Working with Tino Seghal as part of MIF23 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.”
The artists and footballers involved include British conceptual artist Ryan Gander and the French footballer, actor, musician and Manchester United icon Eric Cantona, who will playfully explore the effects of fame on players.
The new work will see a spotlight randomly pick a visitor and follow their movement around the exhibition until they leave the space, continually repeating the process and selecting a new subject to shower with attention.
Meanwhile, artist collective Keiken will team up with Manchester United and England Trequartista Ella Toone to dig deeper into what football means to her.
Audiences will be able to experience an intimate sonic journey, and hear directly from Toone on her inner world, discovering her perspective, dreams and driving forces.
Dutch ex-footballer and photographic artist Edgar Davids will work with American sculptor and video artist Paul Pfeiffer to create an art installation that serves as both the entrance to the exhibition and an integral part of it.
This immersive installation takes the form of a tunnel, inviting visitors to step into the thoughts, feelings, and rituals players experience as they move through the sacred space between the dressing room and the pitch.
Ella Toone of Manchester United celebrates after scoring their side's fourth goal to complete their hat-trick during the Barclays Women's Super League match between Manchester City and Manchester United
Ella Toone of Manchester United celebrates after scoring their side's fourth goal to complete their hat-trick during the Barclays Women's Super League match between Manchester City and Manchester United
Elsewhere, London-based artist Alvaro Barrington and Brazilian footballer Raí who together will explore their shared experiences of community in sport and the multi-faceted purposes it can serve.
Also joining the team, American artist and educator Suzanne Lacy, Manchester City and Netherlands star Vivianne Miedema and Angel City FC team up on a short film exploring and questioning football’s complex relationship with gender.
Meanwhile, Argentinian artist Jill Mulleady will draw on her memory of meeting football legend Diego Maradona to create a new large-scale canvas.
Her work is inspired by Maradona’s La Mano de Dios (Hand of God), the controversial goal scored during the quarter final of the 1986 World Cup between Argentina and England.
Mexican sculptor and fashion designer Bárbara Sánchez-Kane will also be working with Mexican goalkeeper Jorge Campos to create a sculptural piece inspired by the Neomayan architecture of Manuel Amábilis. The piece takes inspiration from Campos’ unique goalkeeping style, agility, colourful kits and love of surfing.
English painter Rose Wylie will collaborate with Arsenal and England defender Lotte Wubben-Moy. Sharing their love of drawing, Wubben-Moy will provide images and sources of inspiration for Wylie's interpretation and reimagining.
A wall of vertical video screens will also showcase the journeys that the artists and footballers have been on to create the works in the exhibition, offering audiences a behind-the-scenes look into the making of the show.
L to R, Low Kee Hong, John McGrath, and Edgar Davids
L to R, Low Kee Hong, John McGrath, and Edgar Davids
The project first kicked off at MIF23 with a world premiere of This entry – a work by artist Tino Sehgal, made with the involvement of Juan Mata and presented at the National Football Museum and the Whitworth.
This time round, new artworks will be creating and exhibited at Aviva Studios from 4 July until 24 August 2025.
Serpentine Artistic Director and co-curator Hans Ulrich Obrist added: "Football City, Art United is an urgent and global dialogue that has the capacity to reach people that may never step foot in a gallery or a stadium.
"Football is for everyone. Art is for everyone. We hope to create a bridge full of possibility for Manchester and beyond.”
Filmmaker, writer and co-curator Josh Willdigg also commented: "At their best, these worlds we are fortunate enough to play within meet in the middle at moments of wondrous epiphany.
"The greatest difference between the imagination fuel provided by a great painting or goal, song or skill move, film or diving save, are the permissions we give ourselves to prescribe meaning to them.
"All are sources of endless inspiration. All can change or even save a life. And of course, all are works of art.”
Earlier today, Factory International revealed the programme for the world-famous biennial arts festival inside its home, Aviva Studios.
Taking place from Thursday, 3 July to Sunday, 20 July, this year will see MIF spread its wings beyond the city centre, with events in Rochdale and Wigan, and boast a plethora of artists from across the region.