VIDEO - Martin Gordopelota tells Argentinian futbol's subculture

Buenos Aires-based artist Martin Gordopelota has spent the last few years producing a body of work that illuminates a particularly Argentinian subculture of futbol, grilled meats, cold beer and cigarettes. His canvases and murals depict a quotidian side of the game that is often overshadowed by modern football's focus on big money, big brands and big stars. In this film produced by Victory Journal and directed by Orco Videos, Gordopelota shows us the real-life source material for his work and gives us a glimpse of both his skills on the pitch and with the brush.

As painter and muralist, Martin captures Argentina’s amateur soccer culture in an unapologetic way. A lot of his imagery is not glamorous, but of course, this is completely in line with what he sees and experiences on a daily basis. His images capture an overlooked purity that provides a stark contrast to all of the game’s commercial propaganda. In making this point, Martin reveals his mixed feelings for soccer. While he enjoys watching as many games as he can, he is disturbed by all the “robot-minded” players whose souls and love for the game is being taken away by the huge business of soccer.