Throughout much of the world soccer has long been more than just a sport. It is a cultural phenomenon, an arena in which local rivalries and national dramas have been played out long before satellite broadcasting made it possible for games to be beamed around the world and experienced simultaneously by hundreds of millions of viewers. In June 2008 Austria and Switzerland play host to the European soccer championship UEFA Euro 2008, a sporting spectacle that to Europe and in many other parts of the world is more important than the S... Read more

Throughout much of the world soccer has long been more than just a sport. It is a cultural phenomenon, an arena in which local rivalries and national dramas have been played out long before satellite broadcasting made it possible for games to be beamed around the world and experienced simultaneously by hundreds of millions of viewers. In June 2008 Austria and Switzerland play host to the European soccer championship UEFA Euro 2008, a sporting spectacle that to Europe and in many other parts of the world is more important than the Superbowl. In the United States many people, but particularly immigrant communities will passionately follow the outcomes of these matches.

The Austrian Cultural Forum has commissioned the exhibition Bread and Soccer: In the Arena of Art to mark the occasion. The title refers to the ancient Roman tradition of panem et circenses (Bread and Circuses). The show explores the magical flowing rhythm of the game itself as well as the unique energy that soccer fans have brought to the sport. Questions of nationalism, mass spectacle, pseudo-religion, media and mastery are explored. The eleven artists (like the eleven players on a soccer team) present works that suggest ways in which the cult of spectatorship meets the culture of participation in the arena of art.

A special short and documentary film program has been developed to accompany the exhibition. There will also be foosball tournaments with the stars of Red Bull New York (please view our calendar for details). A catalogue will be available mid-June.

Artists

GUSTAVO ARTIGAS | RODERICK BUCHANAN | JULIUS DEUTSCHBAUER/TONSPURVIENNA |THOMAS FEUERSTEIN | PIA LINDMAN | MARTIN MAXIMILIAN MICHL and MARKUS ISER | KLAUS POBITZER | SERGE SPITZER | SPENCER TUNICK | NIVES WIDAUER | MONIKA WÃœHRER

Curated by Trevor Smith and Jürgen Weishäupl
Commissioned and Produced by Andreas Stadler
Exhibition Coordination Elisabeth Haider
Exhibition Assistance Natascha Boojar, Catharina Coreth, Stephanie Pereira, Maria Simma, Susanne Zöhrer

The exhibition is generously supported by Austrian Airlines, Duggal, Ottakringer, Red Bull New York, RZB Finance, Settepani, Zumtobel Staff
Supporting Institutions Federal Ministery of Education, Arts and Culture; 2008 РÖsterreich am Ball