Everyone’s centre court
Low Bros have collaborated with Roger Federer’s Neon Legacy Initiative, in partnership with Mercedes Benz and the London Tennis Association, on an amazing community project.
Distinct in style and awareness, this Low Bros project has pushed the topics of participation in a way that debunks the complexities of privilege and accessibility through their art. In their latest collaboration, this unique vision has been carried on and brought to life on the Abbey Wood tennis court in Bostall Gardens in the Royal Borough of Greenwich (RGB).
The agency Concrete Candy connected the artist duo to work alongside Roger Federer and the London Tennis Association to change the perception of tennis as an exclusive sport. This latest piece draws inspiration from the surrounding Bostall Gardens in South-East London to create a space for recreational use and community growth.
The main idea that propelled the artist duo to collaborate on this project was to unite community members by changing the perception of tennis being an elitist sport and designing a crest on the court for all of the community members to be proud of. This design was then taken and made into a crest, an emblem and a symbol for tennis club members to wear proudly. People brought their own garments to have the crest printed on them, which consisted of the court’s flower and tennis balls. This event was a great success, and the idea was born after the duo visited the space in September 2022. They were blown away by the locals’ excitement for the sport. The use of colours on the court represents this and encapsulates the local sceneries in this one-of-a-kind design.
The project is part of the Neon Legacy initiative initiated by Roger Federer and Mercedes Benz and LTA parks through their ‘Parks Tennis’ initiative. The tennis court was donated to Bostall Garden public park. The idea is to offer free tennis lessons to children and local community members — it is still to be decided if it will be free of charge — but one thing is for sure, all are welcome to join. This gesture aligns with the Low Bros’ craftsmanship as their work continues to explore the interplay between sports, urban spaces and privilege.
Sticking true to their style of debunking these complexities of privilege and accessibility, their use of bright colours and symmetrical lines skillfully weaves a narrative within contemporary culture that is inclusive and community-driven. Their unmistakable style is sharp and vivid, and this transcends onto the tennis court, with the flower in the centre that creates a dynamic, sporty energy. Their unbridled creativity includes stories from locals and they worked together with students from Ravensbourne University London to bring the entire project’s tagline to life: “Everyone’s centre court.”
Low Bros have carefully provoked thoughts and stimulated dialogue around themes of inclusivity through their work — especially with the use of tennis balls as a long-standing symbol of privilege. This theme has continued and is brightly displayed in the Abbey Wood tennis court. The tennis balls are reappropriated and are showcased as a reminder of inclusivity in the game of tennis. Growing up, the duo had little access to the sport, except for watching it on TV with their grandfather. “In Germany, there are no open courts. You have to pay to join a club to be able to play. So it didn’t feel that cool,” says the duo. The concept for this creative project aims to represent Low Bros, and their art by giving a unique identity to the Abbey Wood community. By challenging the boundaries that exist within urban spaces, as well as challenging traditional views on sports exclusivity, Low Bros explore new avenues and create dynamic perspectives.
Having garnered recognition and acclaim for previous projects, from an early stage, their work has included basketballs as a part of street culture in their work. The tennis ball became an excellent counterpart, as being more elitist and inaccessible to ordinary people. This new project in Abbey Wood changed that and created an inclusive, sporty dynamic that gives back to the community through this collaboration — an initiative that Roger Federer has pushed since his retirement from tennis last year. Now, the award-winning sportsperson is looking to a future where he can give back and leave a sense of motivation for sports in a valuable way. Together, the collaboration did just that because, as Federer says, tennis “is not a sport about winning or losing. It’s a great way to go out and make friends.”
Low Bros’ artist achievements have garnered international recognition. As Federer stated in an interview, the court is a flagship of high esteem as it “is one of the most special and most beautiful courts” they have in this initiative. With their work displayed in cities such as New York, LA, Warsaw, Lisbon, Hong Kong, Tel Aviv, Berlin and Brussels — to name a few — their murals and distinct style leave an indelible mark with a splash of surrealism in these urban spaces. Their aesthetic has evolved from a deeply personal subcultural past that is present in their collective cultural identity and beyond — and this is seen through this collaboration with an icon, making sports more accessible to people who really need it.
Low Bros is a Hamburg-based artist duo composed of Florin & Christoph Schmidt. Their work pushes to highlight the conflicts between progress and traditionalism, which has been the centre of their artistic direction. Their instantly recognizable geometric characters and sports references on walls and canvases offer an ambivalence of urbanity and nature. The Low Bros’ design, through the use of structured lines and a smart combination of colours, gives back to urban space with an unforgettable aesthetic and edge.
For media enquiries, interviews or more information, please contact:
Florin & Christoph Schmidt
+49 176 3223 1818
hello@lowbros.de
www.lowbros.de
