From Canvas to Kit: StuttgART
@jako
Artistry within the game of football has existed since its conception. From poorly-paved gravel streets, to the finest Bermuda grass you’ve ever laid eyes on; a canvas has always been present. The art that has been created on these canvases has spanned centuries and has evolved over time to produce some of the most magical artists to ever live, footballers.
On the flip side, as football has grown, and canvases have expanded, an alternative lane has been opened to make way for art within the art [of football]. The fluidity and freedom to create that artists and footballers alike possess, is a perfect matrimony that should be embraced until the end of time.
German artist, Tim Bengel, who studied Art History and Philosophy at the Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, recently teamed up with Jako and VfB Stuttgart to create stunning kit which encapsulates and epitomizes VfB Stuttgart’s distinct evolution as a 130-year-old Club. Bengel, whose motto is “do things differently,” is famously known for his usage of aesthetically pleasing gold and sand collage techniques, which can be seen painted on VFB Stuttgart’s limited-edition kit below:
“For me personally, football has an unbelievably connecting power, people from all walks of life and age groups come together. This sport is a true cross-section of society.”
- Tim Bengel via Instagram [@timbengel]
However fleeting time may seem, art and sport [football] have the power to transcend time and pass through generations of hardship and happiness to create a harmonious appreciation for the beauty that resides in between our existing differences.
@jako
VfB CEO, Alexander Wehrle, had this to say about the release of the new kit: “VfB is a cultural asset to the region, which the StuttgART jersey symbolizes in a unique way. Through our foundation, we’re giving something back to people throughout the region from the support that VfB receives – and promoting social issues, democracy and society. It is therefore particularly important to us to also use this unique jersey for our foundation.” via VfB Stuttgart | Sondertrikot
Whether it's started on an empty pitch or on a blank canvas, two things will always ring true; football is art, and art is eternal. This latest link-up between Tim Bengel and VfB Stuttgart will be talked about in art and football communities for years to come.
VfB Stuttgart, founded in 1893, will only be selling 1,893 of these special pieces, which can be found in the official VfB Stuttgart online shop.