Multiform Tournament
About this Event
To celebrate the exhibition , which is currently on display at the Nieuwe Instituut, curator Amanda Pinatih and social designer Gabriel Fontana invite you to take part in this unique event exploring sports and inclusion. You will play in a dynamic team on an alternative version of the playing field wearing a transformable team kit. Discover what it means when ‘the other’ becomes your teammate – and vice versa.
In Multiform, you will compete in teams, but your team line-up is anything but fixed. Experience how we position ourselves against ‘the other’, what it means to belong to a majority or a minority, and how sport can help counter exclusionary processes.
Programme
The programme is split into two separate sessions, one for adults and one for children and young people aged 12–18. Both programmes take place at the Nieuwe Instituut where Pinatih and Fontana will introduce the game. After this you will play a live game of Multiform and take part in a collaborative workshop on the future of sport, play and public space.
Morning programme (ages 12-18):
- 9:45 - 10:00: Arrival
- 10:00 - 10:30: Introduction by curator Amanda Pinatih and social designer Gabriel Fontana
- 10:30 - 11:30: Multiform tournament
- 11:30 - 13:00: Multiform workshop
Afternoon programme (ages 18+):
- 13:45 - 14:00: Arrival
- 14:00 - 14:30: Introduction by curator Amanda Pinatih and social designer Gabriel Fontana
- 14:30 - 15:30: Multiform tournament
- 15:30 - 17:00: Multiform workshop
Practical note
Please come dressed in sportswear. The Multiform kit is worn over your own clothes, so there is no need to change on site. You can sign up individually, or encourage your friends, classmates or colleagues to join – teams will be formed on the spot.
About Multiform
Multiform was developed by Gabriel Fontana in Rotterdam and has since travelled the world. In recent years, it has been played in schools across Europe, at Nike’s headquarters in Portland, at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris and as part of the Dutch contribution to the Venice Architecture Biennale. In 2025, Multiform was acquired by the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York for its Architecture and Design permanent collection.
Studio Fontana
Social designer Gabriel Fontana aims to reshape sports in order to support societal shifts. His goal is to provide a playful way for people to experience the true meaning of the prevailing norms of identity, community and inclusion, and how we can bring about change. He uses sport as a metaphor for society, where playing ‘against each other’ is usually the norm. With transformable kits, undefined teams and shapeshifting playing fields, his designs allow us to experience novel forms of connection, free from pre-established roles and rules.
2025 Venice Architecture Biennale
SIDELINED: A Space to Rethink Togetherness was previously on display at the Dutch Pavilion during the 19th International Architecture Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia in 2025, as the official Dutch contribution.
Special thanks to
Multiform, which is organised in collaboration with Queer Gym Rotterdam and the Wijkatelier of the Afrikaanderwijk Cooperative. The event is supported by the Municipality of Rotterdam as part of the Queering the City programme.
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
EUR 7.50 to EUR 12.50
