The Saints

Commissioned by Artangel and first presented in 2007, The Saints underscores Pfeiffer’s interest in London’s Wembley Stadium, which represents the epicenter of English football—a national pastime. Originally built in 1923, the stadium underwent a total reconstruction between 2001 and 2007, marking a radical shift in the experience of the spectator with the addition of high-tech speakers and screens. In contemplating this shift from old to new forms of spectating, Pfeiffer reimagined the iconic 1966 match in which England famously beat West Germany in extra time to win its first and only World Cup title. For this immersive sound and video installation, Pfeiffer re-created the soundscape of this epic football match with the help of over a thousand people in Manila, who gathered in a movie theater to watch footage of the historic game. For Pfeiffer, the acoustics of the crowd is one of the most significant components in the construction of a collective experience and sense of belonging, and by replacing the cheers of the German and British fans with the voices of a Filipino crowd, he explores how nationalism is performed in these memorable moments of sports history.