Tiny mementoes of giant moments
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World Cup fans' fondest memories are fashioned in miniature figurines
The great moments in World Cup history loom large in the memories of football fans everywhere, but in Terry Lee’s studio, they measure about the size of a thimble.
The British artist, who lives in Brazil, has recreated the most famous and infamous scenes of the sport’s greatest showcase with tiny plastic figures from the classic table-football game Subbuteo.
A miniature Bobby Moore proudly holds the World Cup trophy as the England skipper’s teammates hoists him on their shoulders at Wembley in 1966. Then Moore embraces a tiny, shirtless Pele in Mexico in 1970.
Turning toward more recent moments, Uruguay’s explosive Luis Suarez celebrates scoring against England in Brazil on June 19. Then he bites Italian Giorgio Chiellini’s shoulder.
Zinedine Zidane head-butts Marco Materazzi, Paul Gascoigne cries after being booked and David Beckham stares into the middle distance as he is sent off against Argentina.
All are iconic moments from World Cups down the decades, now immortalised as figures standing barely four centimetres high – save for Mexican goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, the superstar of his country’s current campaign in Brazil, who is more than twice as big.
Each stems from Lee’s nostalgia for Subbuteo, a table-football game that was wildly popular when today’s 30- and 40-somethings were youngsters.
“I’ve always loved football. I’ve always had a passion for art, but it never seemed to materialise into a career,” says Lee, a 31-year-old who moved to Brazil earlier this year. “I feel very blessed that I can combine two great passions of mine.”
It all started with eccentric former Colombia goalkeeper Rene Higuita denying England a goal with his legendary “Scorpion Kick” – not in a World Cup game, but in a friendly at Wembley in 1995.
Lee happened to be rummaging through some old Subbuteo pieces at the time. “The eureka moment came when I had amassed a lot of broken Subbuteo figures and wanted to recycle them. This is when I created the Rene Higuita ‘Scorpion Kick’.
“It was instantly a hit online and I realised this is what I should be creating – unique Subbuteo figures of iconic players.” His focus soon turned to World Cup scenes.
Football and art, plus a heavy dash of nostalgia, can prove irresistible. The figures are sold online for about $20 (Bt650) a piece to clients around the globe.
“Naturally people age 30-plus have heard of Subbuteo – it brings back great memories. I have many clients who tell me they buy my figures to get their children interested,” Lee says.
Each takes a day or two to complete and is hand-painted “using some very, very fine-hair brushes” in what is now a full-time job. “There’s a lot of sculpting, cutting, sanding and gluing to achieve the individuality in each figure. I’ll never be a millionaire with this, but I feel very blessed that I have found the perfect work for myself.”
Lee’s current World Cup production line has kept him busy. “The [Robin] Van Persie header in Holland against Spain is very popular. I am always looking for iconic moments and the World Cup always delivers.”
Suarez’s highs and lows, Daniel Sturridge’s goal celebration for England against Italy, Lionel Messi and Neymar hitting the target – myriad top names are available.
