Blu Bianco
Instagram: @blubiancogbg
What is your story of fascination with football?
I moved to Gothenburg from the southern parts of Sweden as a kid. My parents weren’t too keen on the south dialect and wanted us to grow up not speaking like the southerners. When I started kindergarten the daughter of IFK star Ola Svensson attended the same kindergarten as me and that led us to singing the IFK chant «heja blåvitt» every day. Which led me to become a IFK supporter.
But I wasn’t very football interested as a kid (I didn’t learn of local rival GAIS existence until I was 10 years old) my real interest in football began when my friends started to go to matches when we were around 16 years old. We started to attend every home game and stood in the stands or the «klacken» as we call it in Sweden.
My fascination with football definitely began with a fascination with what was going on in the stands. That you could sing mean chants to your rivals and also in a very real way sledge to the outcome of the match is was drew me in. It’s like going to a concert but you are able to make the artist perform even better!
I’m sure I wouldn’t have fallen in love with any team who’s games I could not attend.
Do you create football art professionally or is it a hobby?
It’s a hobby. Or at least 95,7% of the time. I’m very fortunate to work for my club. So I’m a little bit professional.
But I would love to do it full time. So to you reading this, hook me up!
What football event or story has made an unforgettable impression on you?
IFK has had a bunch of bad years lately which means that there haven’t been that many good memories for some time.
But in 2019. We played a «derby» against BK Häcken (no joke, häcken translates to ass). The score was 1-1 in the 92 min. Häcken has a corner kick, we manages to win the ball and start an offence, Robin Söder gets the ball behind the keeper in the very last second of the game. I had given up a long time ago. Needless to say, I had a great afternoon that day!
Do you attend the stadium, and if so, which team’s matches do you try to get to?
Every home game! (Almost) and some away games. I only care about IFK so it’s only their games I attend.
I have seen a couple of games in Europe, Bayern and Espanyol (for some reason) and they were pretty good. But the Swedish stands are on a level of their own. It’s a league that hasn’t sold out completely, yet.
What are your interests besides football and art?
I’m a drummer and I play in a band. I would say that music was my first love, and the first cut isn’t the deepest.
Could you highlight a few of your works that make you especially proud and explain why?
In general I’m most proud of the work that isn’t based on any photo but just comes from an idea I had. I guess the one that comes to mind in that case is this one.
The text translates to «the spring sun was shining and the winter was forgotten» which is taken from our club anthem. And I wanted to illustrate that by having white hoppers on the pitch. In Sweden (and I guess everywhere else) white hoppers are a symbol for sling, I think this one turned out pretty well.
Another one is this. It’s an image of the previously mentioned «klacken». I wanted to illustrate the feeling of a sold out «klack» and illustrated people from all walks of life gathered together to sing their team to a win. Really enjoyed how this one turned out. But the take for ever to make. So it will be some time before I do another one. I think.
The text reads («stand up for the city of Gothenburg» and «everyone to the old (short for old Ullevi)).
To me it is important to make new types of illustrations all the time. I don’t want to find «my style» and stick to it. I find it more fun to challenge yourself. So the next one is in another type of illustration.
At the moment I’m kind of obsessed with marking patterns. So that’s what I do. This one is based on footballer Kevin Yakob celebrating a goal.
Who are your favourite football artists?
Wow. Tough question there are a lot of terrific artists out there. But to name a few I would say Underthewallstudio makes some fantastic portraits. Ronny Heimann is brilliant, I’m in love with his colors. So creative! Jumpersforgoalpostart makes some really cool images as well. And I must give a shout out to Snartskinerposeidon a fellow IFK comrade who makes some really cool artwork too!