German museum spotlights the art of football during Euro 2024

The idea of art and football may conjure up different images for fans - from the exquisite skill of a player to the lasting glory or bitter defeat after a match. However, few would immediately think of the connection between the sport and the works of renowned artists like Salvador Dali, Joan Miro, Banksy, or even Michelangelo.

An exhibition at the German Football Museum in Dortmund aims to bridge this gap and showcase the overlap between art and "the beautiful game". Titled "In Motion: Art and Football", the exhibition coincides with Euro 2024 and features nearly 200 works representing all 24 nations in the European Championship.

The exhibition charts the evolution of the sport from the early 20th century to the present day, and includes depictions of some of football's most iconic stars - Diego Maradona, Eric Cantona, and Cristiano Ronaldo. Museum director Manuel Neukirchner explains that football has long been a "social phenomenon" and an important medium for artistic expression.

In the modern works, Ronaldo is shown as the figure in Michelangelo's "The Creation of Adam", while Cantona is modeled after a Renaissance painting of the resurrection of Jesus - a piece that Cantona himself owns. Neukirchner notes that players like Cantona, as well as greats such as Johann Cruyff and Pele, channeled a sense of artistry on the pitch during a more individualistic era of the game.

While modern football may seem more regimented, leaving less space for individuality, Neukirchner points to German players like Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz as examples of a more free-spirited approach. "This is also an opportunity where art can actually in this sense positively influence football," he adds.

The exhibition, running until January 2025, is part of several art projects organized by the museum during the European Championship. Alongside the artwork, the museum also features items like the shirts worn by Maradona and Franz Beckenbauer, as well as the ashes of the famous "oracle" octopus, Paul.

Josephine Henning, a former member of the German women's national team and the museum's "artist in residence" during the tournament, agrees that creativity remains crucial as football becomes more regimented. "You always need someone who's a little bit different and the artists in this world, that's what they're there for, to allow everyone to be themselves," she says.