Portrait 19: Women's World Cup & Exhibition Kick-Off Tomorrow
Romi Studio is pleased to present an online exhibition titled "In the beginning, there was Football" that explores the world of football and art, coinciding with the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup.
OPENING TOMORROW
(Brooklyn, New York & Artsy.net) — Romi Studio is proud to present In the beginning, there was Football, an online exhibition exploring the world of football and art on the eve of the 2023 Women’s World Cup, set to be co-hosted in New Zealand and Australia. Celebrating the universal nature of the sport, this exhibition presents ten artists from around the world: Shannon Bono, Marcin Dudek, Ella Littwitz, Jefferson Medeiros, Magdalena Paz, Sheida Soleimani, Sungrea Kim, Victoria Villasana, Wendy White, and Hannah Wilkinson, who herself will be playing for New Zealand in her fourth FIFA World Cup tournament this July.
“In the beginning” alludes to a genesis of time and “there was Football” alludes to disruption and transformation that ensues. Football, once a peaceful game with simple rules, has been affected by the realities of the “outside arena” of life—prejudices, gender inequality, corruption, business interests, and political influences—have permeated onto the football field, casting a long and dark shadow. A recent example in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup was the threat of a “broadcast blackout” which reveals the disparities that exist today
whereas broadcasters pay USD 100-200 million for the men’s FIFA World Cup, they offer only USD 1-10 million for the FIFA Women's World Cup. This is a slap in the face of all the great FIFA Women's World Cup players and indeed of all women worldwide. So, to be very clear, it is our moral and legal obligation not to undersell the FIFA Women’s World Cup.”
— FIFA President Gianni Infantino (May 1, 2023)
Though a compromise was eventually reached just weeks before the FIFA Women's World Cup, the historical void in media coverage and documentation in women's sports remains an ongoing issue. This exhibition aims to address this interrupted coverage and history by presenting artworks that fill the voids and propel the game and its fundamental values towards the mainstream: women’s sports as sports. Furthermore, this group of artists utilizes the transformative potential of sport to prompt new narratives about football, ultimately inspiring new forms of remembrance and mythmaking.
On the beautiful occasion of the ninth Women’s World Cup in Oceania, this exhibition celebrates football and the way artists can use it to define our times, reclaim lost time, and evoke a long overdue nostalgia. This exhibition has full “coverage” in its online format and will broadcast worldwide a diverse range of works made between 2007 and today: sculptures, small to large-scale paintings, sports photography, textiles, and four sets of limited edition prints made specifically for this this exhibition. Further mirroring the game itself, each of the ten artists embodies a player on the field, while the viewer assumes the active role as eleventh player—akin to a vigilant goalkeeper—holding the greatest vantage point and liable for the game’s outcome.
For inquiries or further information, please reach out to us at info@romistudio.io or visit our website at romistudio.io.