Mark Wallinger: The Russian Linesman: Frontiers, Borders and Thresholds - Softcover

Text by Mark Wallinger.

Turner Prize-winner Mark Wallinger is one of Britain's most intellectually curious, socially committed and unpredictable artists. His work often dwells on the interface between two realms. For this, the latest in the Hayward's acclaimed series of artist-curated projects, he explores variations on the notion of the liminal, a concept with physical, political, metaphysical meanings. Lines and borders, thresholds, pairings and contraries, simulacra and mirror images figure in an eclectic range of historical and contemporary works by artists including William Blake, Vija Celmins, Tacita Dean, Thomas Demand, Albrecht Durer, Bruce Nauman, Guiseppe Penone and Fred Sandback. The Russian Linesman, Tofik Bakhramov, is famous (or infamous) for a controversial ruling in the 1966 World Cup Final between the home team England and West Germany, which had just eliminated the Soviet Union team in the semi-finals. His ruling gave the goal to England, a 3-2 lead in extra time, perhaps the most debated decision in all of football. In England, it is commonly believed that the decision was correct, while in Germany it is commonly said that the linesman made a mistake. Bakhramov was in fact from Azerbijan. This book is the exhibition catalogue to accompany the exhibition at The Hayward, London (18 February to 3 May 2009).