The Best You Can Is Good Enough (Maradona and Father)

Library Nights #5
Tuesday 10 Feburary, 19.00
Rijksakademie Reading Room
Entrance free, RSVP here

Maurice van Es (RA 17/18) presents two new editions of 'Scannedfootballphotos': 'Maradonna', and 'Father'. The presentation will be accompanied by a conversation with fellow Rijksakademie alumni biologist Tijs Goldschmidt and artist Mercedes Azpilicueta on football, fatherhood, daily life, representation, and other affective encounters, approached through both scientific and artistic practices.

Since 2019, Maurice has scanned over 14,000 photographs from all kinds of football magazines, postcards, fanzines, gossip magazines, and other printed materials. Focusing on the pre-smartphone era, the 'Scannedfootballphotos' book series captures a time before the digitalisation of photography and society. Complementary to each other, the ‘Maradona’ and ‘Father’ books engage in a dialogue about the (im)possibility of living a loving life. The obsessive and decadent figure of Maradona, juxtaposed with the warm and caring imagery of the ‘Father’ book, possibly forms a photographic duo that encapsulates the complexity of life itself.

In 'Maradona', a 368-page book, Maurice attempted to portray Maradona (1960–2020) as completely as possible. Growing up in poverty and dying while surrounded by wealth and excess, the image of Maradona embodies a “rise and fall” trajectory that is almost stereotypical for footballers of the 1980s and 1990s. Addicted to alcohol and cocaine, Maradona personifies cocaine itself. Defined by excess, overindulgence, and decadence, something within him seemed to always want more –never having enough. At the same time, Maradona possessed an unparalleled love for football. No one touched the ball with the same tenderness and intimacy as he did.

'Father' is a 272-page book that comprises photographs of footballers in their role as fathers, or alongside their own fathers.

The books are available at scannedfootballphotos.com.