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STEVE FINAN: V&A Dundee’s problem is it isn’t ‘Dundee’ enough

Is a Dundee-centric exhibition right under the V&A's nose? Steve Finan thinks so. Image: DC Thomson.
Is a Dundee-centric exhibition right under the V&A's nose? Steve Finan thinks so. Image: DC Thomson.

I attended the John Holt Testimonial Dinner at the weekend, and thoroughly enjoyed it.

A chance to celebrate the career of, and pay respects to, a footballing hero and a lovely bloke.

The rich history of both Dundee’s football clubs is a big thing for this city. We should be grateful.

Answer this: list everything you know about Haam, Solingen, or Neuss in Germany? Burgos or Terrassa in Spain? Villeurbanne in France? Prato in Italy?

No, I don’t know much about these cities either. They are all a similar size to Dundee. But none of their football teams ever made a mark on European competition.

Dundee, however, has had both of its clubs in European Cup semi-finals: 1962-63 for Dundee, 1983-84 for United. The Tangerines then reached the UEFA Cup Final. Those feats gave incredible prominence to our city.

I was once in a market in Turkey where a vendor, hawking a rug, asked where I was from.

When I said Dundee, he reeled off the names Hegarty, Narey, Sturrock, Malpas. I don’t think the city has produced an artist or sculptor who could claim to be similarly famous.

What has the city done to thank the football clubs which elevated its name?

Precious little.

But what could be done? I think there should be a museum exhibition.

V&A Dundee should centre football clubs

The V&A, in my opinion, could feature Dundee-specific subjects just a wee bit more than it has done so far in its five-year existence.

The V&A specialises in design. But a football team is designed. The concerted movement of 11 players has to be choreographed. It is concept made reality.

Is it art? There is no agreed definition of art. Interpretation is in the eye of the beholder. Football is fluid geometry, an aesthetic philosophy crafted from skill and timing. Calling it art, or not, depends how you look at it.

Skill and timing are paramount in football, as Ross Graham showed at his Dundee derby debut this year.

Indeed, I’d suggest an exploration of movement with a ball, each element of the artwork contributing to the whole, would be an innovative way to ask: “what is a performing art?”

So why not a V&A installation on the subject of DUFC and DFC? It would be different. It would attract people who don’t usually visit museums.

And it would divide opinion, but isn’t art meant to challenge?

There is no better place to curate an examination of football as art than in Dundee. The raw material is here.

No other city of our size, in the world, has had two clubs achieve such greatness.

So, V&A, be more “Dundee”.

I see you have six new board members. Here’s an agenda item for your first meeting: beat the drum harder for the city you have such a prominent placement in.

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