Douglas Gordon & Philippe Parreno

Zidane: A 21st Century Portrait

About this artwork

This film follows in real time the movements of the celebrated ex-captain of the French national football team, Zinédine Zidane, during a match between his Spanish club Real Madrid and Villareal. For the entirety of the match Gordon and Parreno trained seventeen synchronised cameras on Zidane alone, using different types of film and placed in various positions around the stadium. The result is a concentrated and absorbing study which offers a unique perspective on the legendary player’s contribution to the match, contrasting bursts of furious activity with long periods of intense mental and emotional focus. Presented as a double projection, the viewpoint of the audience is altered emphasising both artists’ interest in new ways of looking at something that may seem familiar.

Updated before 2020

Does this text contain inaccurate information or language that you feel we should improve or change? Tell us what you think.

Douglas Gordon

Douglas Gordon