One day a red ball comes to the city

Yeser SariYildiz

You wake up this morning and are about to take your usual route to work. The street signs you always see, the bus stops, the few trees… Nothing's changed, so you don't look around too much, but what's that? A huge, enormous, bright red ball has gotten stuck in the entrance of the building you always pass. Crazy questions race through your head: What is this? Who put it there? What purpose does it serve?

NOT JUST AN OBJECT

The RedBall Project is a street art project by American artist Kurt Perschke that has traveled worldwide. Perschke installs a giant, 4.5-meter-diameter inflatable red ball in unexpected corners of cities, in narrow alleys, under bridges, and in squares. It first began in St. Louis in 2001 and has since appeared in over 300 locations, from Barcelona to Sydney, Paris to Liverpool. It stays in each location for only one day. Each city reveals a different story, because the ball is more than just an object; it is redefined by its location, the people passing by, and the architecture.

The artist says, “RedBall is an invitation to spark people's imagination.” The aim isn't just to create a visual shock; it's to disrupt the city's daily routine, to make the ordinary visible. It allows us to suddenly rediscover corners, buildings, and spaces we pass by but never notice. It speaks to architecture, plays with space. Like a balloon tucked into the arch of a bridge, it makes a gap we'd overlook visible again. People stop, touch, take photos, run, and jump toward the ball. Every city reacts differently. Some approach with laughter, others stare with curiosity. That day leaves a mark on the city's collective memory. During its UK tour, it was placed in diverse contexts, including archways, underpasses, and squares, becoming part of completely different scenes.

CULTURAL DIFFERENCES ARE EFFECTIVE

Cultural differences are also evident. The artist noted that in Australia, people physically push and jump the ball, while in London's suburbs, they mostly communicate through conversation and absorbing the ball's presence.

I can't help but wonder what it would have been like in Istanbul. Would someone have come and intercepted that ball, for example? Was that the first thing that came to your mind, too? Actually, it's not a waste.

Consider the giant portrait created by world-renowned artist JR in Fatih. In 2015, as part of his "Wrinkles of the City" project, the giant portrait of an elderly woman was installed on the facade of an old building in Balat. It was soon painted gray. Furthermore, it was a project carried out with the Fatih Municipality at the time, and a police officer, believing it to be unauthorized, brushed the entire art project off.

Unless it's time for story, play, and imagination, a gray, controlling reflex dominates everything. I hope to see many more stories where bright red balls amidst the background color and liven up our days, and Redball entertains children. Until then, if you'd like to follow this red project, you can visit the project's website ( https://redballproject.com/ ) and follow @redballproject on Instagram.