One World, 2018 (football)

Creator: Mark Wallinger Football printed with satellite imagery of the Earth, made for Mark Wallinger’s ‘One world’ project, a commission for the Liverpool Biennial, and part of the 14-18 NOW: World War I Centenary Art Commissions. It takes inspiration from the informal kickabouts which took place during the unofficial ceasefires along the Western Front during the Christmas of 1914. With the world printed on the ball, it also references the iconic Earthrise image, taken from Apollo 8 in December 1968, which shows the Earth floating in the vastness of space and has become a symbol of the fragility of our planet. There is also a caution in the work, about how easily the world can become a football. The project involved sending footballs to community organisations across the country, where they produce short film clips of the ball being played with in different settings, which were then brought together through social media. Royal Museums Greenwich’s participation in this aspect of the project is in the collection as ZBA8884.