Mondo 2026
Pen and Ik on paper 70 x70 cm
I came across this ball while taking a walk along a riverbed in Cilento, Italy. Most of the air had leaked out, and the ball lay dented in a puddle of algae and other organisms that seemed unable to break through the plastic shell. It was lying with the text “Super Santos”—“Super Saints”—facing up. I thought it was amusing. Italy, the land of soccer and, moreover, Catholicism, brought together two essences (according to them) here: holy and global (soccer) heroes. On the bottom of the ball—the dented side—the word “Mondo” was written. Such spirituality and depth. The word “Mondo”—world—on a withered piece of plastic. Dented, empty, and neglected, forgotten and left to its fate. I think Super Santos has turned its back on it.