From Arsenal to Bayern Munich: Inside photographer Louis Bever’s football shirt collection
As football fever sweeps the globe ahead of the World Cup final, London-based photographer Louis Bever turns his lens on a different side of the beautiful game: his ever-growing collection of football shirts.
As football fever sweeps the globe ahead of the World Cup final, London-based photographer Louis Bever turns his lens on a different side of the beautiful game: his ever-growing collection of football shirts.
There are football fans, and then there is Louis Bever. With a wardrobe containing what he describes as “a gazillion shirts”, the London-based photographer has transformed a lifelong obsession into Flat 92, an ongoing photographic series documenting some of football’s most iconic kits.
The project began after Bever noticed the resemblance between a figure’s blouse in a Van Gogh painting and a Bayern Munich shirt. Photographing each piece against the backdrop of his London flat, he has built a visual archive spanning around 300 shirts, from rare vintage finds to the kits worn by today’s biggest clubs and international teams.
“My dad’s passion for football and my mum’s passion for art have always inspired my work,” he says. “The more rare shirts I managed to get my hands on, the more portraits I wanted to make.”
As Flat 92 continues to grow alongside football’s biggest moments, Bever joined EE72 to discuss collecting, his beloved Arsenal and the Salvador Dalí paintings currently inspiring his work.
Football has always been in my work. The same thing can be said for art. It was only when I wanted to show off my football shirt collection that I decided to put the two together.
LOUIS BEVER
How did you first get into photography, and who was inspiring you at that time?
I started taking pictures when I was 11 or 12. My grandfather was in the military and also a keen photographer, and film always fascinated me. I remember shooting the first roll of my film, and only a few pictures came out. I set out to shoot a whole roll and make every picture perfect. By the time I managed to take most of the pictures, I had fallen in love with photography. That was accompanied by my mum always having Robert Doisneau and Henri Cartier-Bresson prints scattered across our house. I loved all the photographers from that era, including Henri Cartier-Bresson, Robert Capa, Robert Doisneau, Willy Ronis and André Kertész.
How did your football series come about?
Football has always been in my work. The same thing can be said for art. It was only when I wanted to show off my football shirt collection that I decided to put the two together. I wanted to document my football shirt collection in a way that would make it enjoyable. I noticed a Van Gogh portrait where the subject’s blouse resembled Bayern Munich shirts, and that’s when I had a lightbulb moment. I then started trying to match people, paintings, and shirts together in no specific order.
What is your favourite football shirt and why?
I have a gazillion shirts, but I am an Arsenal supporter. If I had to narrow it down to one Arsenal shirt, it would have to be the 2001 Away Shirt with ‘SEGA’ plastered on the front. It’s brilliant, and it was the last year Arsenal held onto that iconic crest. The 2004 goalkeeper shirt always pops up because it was my first full kit I got for my birthday. It had Lehmann on the back.
Will you be watching the World Cup?
I will be, and it’s my favourite competition apart from the FA Cup. I’m not too impressed with the timings, however, it should be class.
What does your creative process look like and how do your ideas evolve?
It’s about whatever catches my eye, really. I thoroughly enjoy linking odd things together and then texting them to myself so I don’t forget. I should really open a note on my phone. I shoot mainly in my flat just because it’s easy, free, and I have hugely patient housemates. It’s all very relaxed.
What’s currently inspiring you?
Surrealism. I keep looking at these bonkers Dalí paintings and then tweaking my portraits. Either making the subject’s hands huge, or flying like a Marc Chagall painting. I enjoy having a bit of fun with a serious portrait and adding an odd twist. I quite like Mark Rothko’s colour matching too.
What can we expect from your photography in the future?
Finger-crossed some more mediocre JPEGs!
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