(Pictured) 31 framed exhibition prints from Julian Germain’s In Soccer Wonderland.

Drawing together archive materials, his own colour images, self-portraits, text and ephemera, the subject of football is both examined and celebrated. Released as a book in 1994 In Soccer Wonderland deals with the ups and downs of football from the perspectives of fans, players, and the artist himself.

“Germain’s love is not for the pampered millionaire mercenaries of today, or for the expensive new stadia with their executive boxes. It is for the homespun stars of his youth, and those open, windswept grounds in unlovely towns, where one stood – stood – to watch the game in hail, gale, rain and shine.” 

– Gerry Badger, Martin Parr The Photobook: A History Volume II

This set of works originally toured as part of a British Council exhibition to Japan, Chile, Argentina, Romania, Netherlands and Brazil. The exhibition proved testament to the wide reaching love for the ‘beautiful game’, and it is the artists own love for Football and its vernacular, that makes this work so compelling. 

The works are presented in hand-painted frames, many of which contain ephemera materials such as miniature trophies, trading-cards, fanzine cuttings, even mud and grass from football grounds.  

The Martin Parr Foundation houses the complete exhibition set of prints from Julian Germain’s In Soccer Wonderland. 

Medium
C-type and silver gelatin prints

Dimensions
Varying sizes up to 157 x 195cm

Prints
34

Dates
1990 – 1994