The worldcupballs
A photographic history of the original footballs used in the World Cups from 1930 to the present day.
Three years of research and travel halfway around the world were needed to find and photograph them.
Photographed by Jens Heilmann
The story.
Jens Heilmann himself is more of an artist than he is a football fan. He is a photographer and thinks in a sequence of pictures and in creative concepts. For example, in his photos he has made nuts and bolts and tumblers, scrap metal parts and fishhooks, well, even sex toys resemble modern sculptures. However, while driving to Munich in the April of 2007, all of a sudden several questions popped into his head: did the footballs of recent decades have indeed always the
same design? Different colours? Were they ever photographed by one
individual? He could not remember. And so he became curious.
Initial internet searches on footballs showed only horridly photographed stuff. Moreover, there was only scant information about the originals. Apparently, when it came to football, the world was only interested in goals and artistic over-head kicks, in saved penalties and vicious fouls,
in posing winners and fallen idols. But this shapely plaything, the single item they all fight over passionately - gets simply ignored.
Heilmann began experimenting in his studio. His footballs should appear magical. No hard edges. No dominant reflections, no dark side. He knew that the balls would have a variety of different, shiny surfaces. What about the background? White does not work well with white. Colour seems too pushy. So: black it is.
So naturally, his first trip took him to Adidas in Herzogenaurach, not very far from Munich. This company has been supplying the whole world with footballs since the dawn of time. In the company archives, innumerable copies are stored, including ones from all the World Cups from 1974 to the present. Heilmann went on to Frankfurt/Main, to the headquarters of the German Football Association, the DFB. Here, the ball of the 1954 final is kept in a vault. Another photo. How smoothly it all went. And how fascinating the first pictures were!
It was the summer of 2007 and the photographer walked with a spring in his step: he believed he had already crossed the finish line. A big mistake, as it turned out.
Jens Heilmann went to Preston, England, in order to photograph the footballs of the 1930 and 1966 World Cups. He wrote to several football associations, companies, museums, always on the hunt for original balls that had been in World Cup play. He sent e-mails around the globe. He asked for permission to take pictures, inquired about the possible journeys a certain ball could have made.
But above all, Heilmann learned one thing: to wait. To endure, when there were no reactions. Not to despair, when he was sent down the wrong path.
It could even take months until a chance to shoot a single picture might present itself.
As was the case in January of 2008, when he drove to Florence to visit the Museo Del Calcio. As usual, he had packed five aluminium crates
of equipment: camera, tripods, flash generators, lamps, film cassettes… It’s just not possible without 100 kilos of luggage. But after all that effort, he had the pictures of the footballs of 1934, ’38 and ’62 secured on his sheet films, in 10x13 centimetre format.
It might sound now as if the matter slowly reached an end. Wrong. It had only just begun. In October 2009, the photographer came across a name that should prove crucial: René Sopp; a recognised collector of all things football.
Some of the footballs Heilmann had photographed so far were,
well, historically doubtful.
The project came close to be cancelled.
Heilmann flew to the US, to Oneonta in the state of New York. After visiting the National Soccer Hall, he had another ball under his belt: the only ball from 1950 that is reliably documented.
The footballs of 1990, 2002 and 2006 are from Sopp’s collection. Collector Roger Saur was responsive and sent the 1994 and 1998 footballs via airfreight from New York City, USA. On the return trip, these assets very nearly got lost.
At Christmas, Heilmann flew to see Francisco Aquino in Guadalajara on the Pacific coast of Mexico and photographed the only documented ball of 1970. Aquino had flatly refused to send it to Germany, not even in the form of a secured art transport. It is his biggest treasure.
Another hint led to Erich Linemayr in Linz, an Austrian referee: 1974 and 1978 could be checked off. The Sportmuseum Schweiz in Basel, Switzerland, was helpful: another ball from ‘54, plus ‘62 and ‘66.
Dino Maas, a collector from Moers, contributed an 1982 original ball; he also was able to help with the footballs of 1986 and 2006.
Now it was still necessary to meet Bengt Ågren in Stockholm, the
last living witness, who participated in choosing the World Cup ball of 1958 out of 102 footballs… The photographer boarded a flight. The 1958 ball was found.
After plane trips around half the world and after criss-crossing drives through Switzerland, Austria, Italy, England… After innumerable setbacks and after prolonged support by people who allowed themselves to be swept away by the magic of those footballs.
Norbert Thomma
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Fine Art Print
For each Ball. there are several art editions.
1. 60x60 cm
printed on Hahnemühle Fine Art Paper, framed in a high-quality black oak frame,
limited to 10 pieces.
2. 100x100 cm
printed on Hahnemühle Fine Art Paper, framed in a high-quality black oak frame,
limited to 10 pieces.
3. 32x32 cm, 8 prints by choice, including the book.
printed on Hahnemühle Fine Art Paper, handsigned, limited.
The 8 prints ball edition comes with a fabulous book about the worldcupballs. Packaged in a handmade, precious wooden box.
Price: Euro 800,-
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Information about prices is available upon request.
Please contact me regarding your very wishes.
I will advise you personally and then process your order in my print shop.
I am delighted by your interest!