Online audio installation based on a work that was developed during a series of group experiments which aimed to explore the concept of the exhibition in relation to a collective framework. This installation was the result of a collective exploration (in both theory and form) of the concept of 'play'.

The installation consisted of six speakers, an arrangement of chairs (based on the setting of a sports stadium) and an 'entrance ticket'. After having shown their tickets the audience was invited to take a seat and listen, and was urged to explore different seating options throughout the experience. A different sports game was being ‘broadcast’ in each corner of the ‘stadium’. Depending on your position in the stadium a different cacophony of commentators, stadium sounds and audiences could be heard.

With the installation I aimed to explore the concept of play through the concept of ‘interpassivity’, which describes the ability to experience something by observing someone else’s experience. I related this to the enjoyment, stress and excitement people are able to experience when watching a sports game, their experience often even further mediated by the auditory presence of a commentator.

Active Leisure

an interpassive experience

Bobby: (Darts) A score of 116. Treble 20, single 20, and a loose dart landing in treble 12. Perfected in a local public house in the quaint village of Maryhill in Glasgow.
Boot boy: (Football) young player who, in addition to his football training, is expected to perform menial tasks such as cleaning the boots of first-team players.
Bunny Hop: (Cycling) To cause one's bicycle to become airborne by lifting the front wheel and then the rear wheel into the air with such timing that both wheels are simultaneously airborne for a period. Bunny hops are performed either to navigate course features, to perform tricks or to avoid obstacles, depending on the discipline of competition.
Danseuse: (Cycling) (French: danser – to dance) Riding out of the saddle, standing up, usually in a taller gear than normal, and rocking side to side for leverage. The phrase dancing on the pedals is related.
Howler:(Football) glaring and possibly amusing error made by a player or referee during a match.
Egg and Chips: (Darts) Scoring 26 in three darts, through scoring a 20, 1 and 5
Knock: (Cycling) Referred to as "the knock". Short for "hunger knock".
Magic sponge: (Football) sponge filled with water which has a seemingly miraculously reviving effect on injured players.
Monger: (Darts) A person who deliberately scores many more points than needed to win the game.
Play-acting:(Football) similar to diving, play-acting is deceiving the officials that a player is injured to try to gain an advantage or force the referee to punish the "aggressor". Also known as feigning injury or Diving.
Popcorn: (Darts) When the darts land so close to each other, they knock their flights out.
Rip: (Cycling) To ride fast.
Seal dribble: (Football) type of dribble, in which a player flicks the ball up from the ground onto their head and then proceeds to run past opponents whilst bouncing the ball on top of their forehead, somewhat imitating a seal.
Smoke Break: (Darts) Another name for a game of darts.
To Stick The Knife In: (Cycling) To finish off a group of riders who are about to crack. The perpetrator knows (or guesses) he has better overall energy than his competitors, presumably after making them suffer with numerous accelerations. The ensuing violent acceleration, which results in dropped competitors, is referred to as "sticking the knife in".
Travelling army: (Football) expression used by commentators for any set of away fans – that is, fans who travelled to the match to support their team. Often a team's travelling army are referred to as the 12th man.
Ultras: (Football) type of football fans predominantly found in Europe renowned for their fanatical support and elaborate displays at football matches. These displays often include the use of flares, vocal support in large groups, displays of banners at stadium terraces and other forms of tifo choreography.
Wipe out: (Cycling) A crash. Can be used as a verb: "This rider wiped out pretty bad on the wet corner."
Worldy: (Football) a goal which is considered to be world class, e.g. "he scored with a worldy". Also used to describe what is considered to be a world-class performance by a player not well known in the game, playing at a lower level.

"Play: It is an an activity which proceeds within certain limits of time and space, in a visible order, according to rules freely accepted, and outside the sphere of necessity or material utility. The play-mood is one of rapture and enthusiasm, and is sacred or festive in accordance with the occasion. A feeling of exaltation and tension accompanies the action."
Johan Huizinga, Homo Ludens (1983)

Interpassivity:
(blend of interactivity +‎ passivity, coined by cultural theorist Robert Pfaller)
A state of passivity, particularly cognitive or emotional passivity, enabled or facilitated by the appearance or potential of interactivity.

Ticket

Stadium

Concepts

Glossary

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