AS Velasca: Milan's Art Football Team Merges Sport and Creativity

AS Velasca, an interdisciplinary football club founded in 2015 in Milan by a diverse group of artists, directors, photographers, and designers, has gained attention for its artistic approach rather than athletic achievements. Named after one of Milan's first skyscrapers, the team rejects most sponsors except French equipment supplier Le Coq Sportif. Each year, a different artist designs the team's jerseys and tickets, with past collaborators including Chinese artist Jiang Li, Italian street artist Opiemme, South African artist Kendell Geers, and Cameroonian artist Pascale Marthine Tayou. Since the pandemic began a year ago, the club has expanded its artistic involvement to include all members, even the players themselves, in the creative process. President and Italian-French artist Wolfgang Natlacen explained that with museums and stadiums closed, he asked players for the first time to participate in Velasca's artistic side, making them integral to creation. He noted an 'art brut' dimension, though artist Thomas Watebbled jokingly referred to the metal bar on a foosball table made by the players as protection from Art Brut. Natlacen also appreciated Kendell Geers' description of the project as 'social sculpture.' The club has produced jerseys, 'objets utiles,' animations, films, masks with interchangeable expressions for players, and a megaphone mask for the coach.