Love of football celebrated with new Wolverhampton Art Gallery exhibition
The love of football is being celebrated at Wolverhampton Art Gallery with a new exhibition.
It features contemporary works made in response to ‘the beautiful game’, including the outfit worn by comedian Joe Lycett when he appeared to shred £10,000 over a row with David Beckham's involvement with the World Cup.
The Birmingham-born star streamed a video in November of him wearing a colourful outfit and goggles throwing two blocks of cash into a shredder, but later revealed what came out of it was fake.
The move came after he called on the former England star to end his deal with Qatar or the money along with his status as a "gay icon" would be shredded.
The exhibition also includes a piece of artwork, depicting football boots, by former Wolverhampton Wanderers captain Jody Craddock.
Curated by artists Ewan Johnston and Dion Kitson, in partnership with the art gallery, the 'This is our love and it knows no division' exhibition runs until September 10.
The exhibition explores current topical themes such as football culture and its relationship to politics.
The title refers to the phrase that appears on an 80-metre banner stretching across the Stan Cullis stand at Molineux, and is taken from a poem of the same name, written by Wolves supporter Steven Power celebrating his admiration for the team.
The exhibition presents works by 15 contemporary British artists, including established artists Gavin Turk, The Singh Twins, Patrick Hughes, Corbin Shaw and documentary photographer Martin Parr.
There is also work from artists based in or with origins in the West Midlands including Hannah Al Shemmeri, Ruth Batham, Molly Cleaver and photographer Jaskirt Dhaliwal-Boora, as well as the curating artists.
It also features the legendary ‘kicking block’ from the Wolves Museum collection and artwork from Wolverhampton Art Gallery’s own acclaimed collection.
It is accompanied by an exhibition guide in the format of a match programme.
Laura Page, spokeswoman for Wolverhampton Council, said: "There's lots of fantastic artwork.
"We've also got the kicking block which was a good luck charm. They don't use it any more but the players used to kick it before they went out on the pitch.
"On match days we get a lot of visitors in. It shows how much football resonates with the community. The exhibition has been very popular."
Wolverhampton Council cabinet member for visitor city, Councillor Bhupinder Gakhal, added: “This is a fantastic look at football across the region and how fans react to the game.
“Visitors will be able to experience football from all angles, not just from the game perspective but the culture and celebratory art that comes with it.”
The exhibition is on until September 10.
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