Once Upon a Field
Bonart

"As 2026 FIFA World Cup approaches, cultural institutions across Mexico City are exploring football beyond the stadium through exhibitions that examine the sport as a social, political, and emotional phenomenon. The article highlights both Football and Art: That Same Emotion at Museo Jumex and Once Upon a Field at Mariane Ibrahim, underscoring the growing dialogue between contemporary art and the global cultural impact of football.

 

Opening from May 30 through August 15, Once Upon a Field transforms the gallery into a space where football becomes a lens through which to reflect on identity, memory, community, and the body. Bringing together artists including Raphaël Barontini, Amoako Boafo, Omar Victor Diop, Clotilde Jiménez, and Youssef Nabil, the exhibition presents eleven distinct visual narratives across painting, photography, installation, and film. The article notes that the exhibition’s title plays on both the number of players on a football team and the storytelling phrase “once upon a time,” framing the field as a stage for collective memory and human experience."