Hornball / Pelota de Cuerno

Hornball / Pelota De Cuerno is a commission for the Caja de Burgos Foundation, for display at Quinta de San Agustín, Burgos.

Hornball is an absurd new sport for up to four players. The aim is to keep the ball moving between teams and build points through successful rallies. Each time the ball is caught in the large basket horn, the value of the rally increases.

The rally ends when the ball is missed or a throw is deemed a foul. The opposing team then wins the points accumulated during that rally. The ball may also bounce once before being caught.

The project developed from an exploration of design and craft within formalised play. Sports equipment, balancing craftsmanship, repeatability, ergonomics and function, offered an exciting challenge for making art. The basketwork horns are familiar in form but removed from context, forcing players to move their bodies in unfamiliar ways. The game exists partly in the player’s peripheral vision.

Using basketry, the work looks towards the origins of commercial sports, many of which developed from indigenous ceremonies, rituals and social gatherings. The combination of craft, heritage and the body pushes performance into a more formalised space, using sport as a framework for performance without the need for actors. Hornball questions contemporary divisions between art, craft, play and competition

The first game of Hornball was played on 13 August 2026 at Penarth Lawn Tennis Club.

Images by Kirsten McTiernan & Inga Krik