Zinédine Zidane on screen at the Guggenheim: a 21st-century portrait turns play into art | OneFootball

The Guggenheim Museum in New York is marking the 20th anniversary of Douglas Gordon and Philippe Parreno’s film on Zinédine Zidane, recasting the former France No 10’s movements as art.

According to L'Équipe, the work, Zidane, a 21st century portrait, is screening in the Peter B. Lewis Theater throughout the World Cup, with the run due to end on 19 July, the day of the final. A few days ago, Zidane cycled around Central Park with his sons and passed the museum, but did not step inside.

Inside, Frank Lloyd Wright’s spiral ramp draws visitors upwards in a soft loop, past Picasso, Braque and Van Gogh, before the descent to the basement theatre. Movement has always mattered here, which suits a film about football’s rhythms.

Made in 2006, the film studies Zidane over one match, Real Madrid v Villarreal in April 2005, which finished 2-1. Shot with 17 cameras, this New York presentation shows the common cinematic cut alongside a single-camera track that isolates the player.

The work quickly grips the senses, from Zidane’s curt runs to the thud of ball on boot and the player’s sideward glances. A security guard, Toshan Hutton, passes time with a stack of Panini stickers, backing Barcelona and boasting a shiny Brazil 2002 team duplicate and a little classroom French. A visitor from France, Frédéric, called the fixed-camera view hypnotic and said the display makes the museum feel like home.

Source: L'Équipe