Pigs Bladder Football is an unusual, new and experimental art project, re-connecting traditional techniques and lost knowledge through the use of cutting-edge scientific processes. The historic and material origins of our beautiful game are explored through a programme of hands-on workshops, games development activities, short films and exhibitions.
Through mutually creative and scientific experiments, artist John O'Shea and Prof. John Hunt at University of Liverpool Clinical Engineering Unit, will cultivate a uniquely captivating sculptural object: a 21st century "football" grown from living cells.
Over the course of 2012, John O'Shea is in residence at the University of Liverpool, Clinical Engineering Unit working in collaboration with Phd. scholar Theun Van Veen: To keep up to date with the progress of the laboratory work please follow the Pigs Bladder blog: http://www.pigsbladderfootball.com/blog
During 2011, through a series of public workshops, competitive games of “pigs bladder football” were developed across the North West which culminated at the 2011 Egremont Crab and Sports Fair in Cumbria with the first game of “Pigs Bladder Football” to take place during the 21st Century! This took place on Saturday 17th of September 2011 (as part of Abandon Normal Devices)
Pigs Bladder Football is commissioned by Abandon Normal Devices Festival and is funded by the Wellcome Trust.
- if you would like to get in contact: contact@pigsbladderfootball.com
- “like” our facebook page!
- follow progress on the blog
- enjoy further events, screenings and exhibitions as part of Abandon Normal Devices
- below, introductory talk about Pigs Bladder Football at TEDxMerseyside event:
This new commission by Abandon Normal Devices and is made possible through the Wellcome Trust Arts Award scheme and the collaboration of Prof. John Hunt at Liverpool University's Clinical Engineering Unit.
Abandon Normal Devices is an innovative public art festival happening across England’s North West and is part of We Play the North West cultural legacy programme for the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (Legacy Trust UK.) The Wellcome Trust public engagement Arts Award scheme supports imaginative and experimental arts projects that investigate biomedical science.
