Headbutt (sculpture)
| Headbutt | |
|---|---|
| Artist | Adel Abdessemed |
| Year | 2012 |
| Type | Bronze |
| Dimensions | 500 cm (200 in) |
Headbutt (French: Coup de tête) is a sculpture by French-Algerian artist Adel Abdessemed. It is 5 m (16.4 ft) tall and made from bronze. It was unveiled on 26 September 2012 at the Centre Pompidou in Paris, France.[1]
Background[edit]
The sculpture depicts an incident that took place in the 110th minute of the 2006 FIFA World Cup Final between France and Italy,[2] when Zinedine Zidane headbutted Italian defender Marco Materazzi in the chest after Materazzi had verbally provoked him.[3] Zidane consequently received a red card and was sent off. France lost the match, which was Zidane's final match as a professional footballer.
Exhibition[edit]
Pompidou Centre[edit]
As France subsequently lost the match, exhibition organiser Alain Michaud has described it as "...against the tradition of making statues in honour of certain victories. It is an ode to defeat".[1]
Qatar Museums Authority[edit]
As part of Qatar Museums Authority public art program the sculpture was brought to Doha for an undisclosed amount on 4 October 2013, intended to be permanently installed on the Corniche near Al Mourjan restaurant.[4][5]
The sculpture was removed on 30 October, owing to criticism from Islamic conservatives who complained that glorifying the infamous act of violence set a bad example for local youth and bordered on idolatry. It was then moved into the Arab Museum of Modern Art in Doha.[6]
The statue has also been exhibited in Tuscany and Avignon.[7]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ a b "Zinedine Zidane headbutt statue unveiled in Paris". France 24. 26 September 2012. Archived from the original on 5 January 2014. Retrieved 5 January 2014.
- ^ "Sculpture of Zidane headbutt 'ode to defeat'". Sowetan Live. 28 September 2012.
- ^ "Materazzi reveals insult to Zidane". CNN. 5 September 2006.
- ^ Scott, Victoria (3 October 2013). "QMA installs five-meter Zidane 'head-butt' statue on Corniche". Doha News.
- ^ "Qatar erects 5-meter-high 'Head Butt' statue of Zidane". ANSA News. 3 October 2013.
- ^ "Qatar takes down statue of 'headbutting' soccer players after backlash". Fox News. 1 November 2013.
- ^ "La statue du coup de boule de Zidane à Materazzi quitte Avignon". le dauphiné libéré. 27 November 2018.
- Bronze sculptures in Paris
- 2012 sculptures
- Monuments and memorials in Paris
- Buildings and structures in Doha
- 2006 FIFA World Cup
- Association football sculptures
- Zinedine Zidane
- Statues of sportspeople
- Statues in France
- Statues in Qatar
- Sculptures of men
- Sports culture in France
- Cultural depictions of association football players
- Cultural depictions of French people
- Cultural depictions of Italian people
- Sculptures in the Musée National d'Art Moderne