
Marcin Dudek
Estadio, 2025
Acrylic paint, linen, steel, wood, aluminium, medical tape, UV varnish.
160 x 120 cm
63 x 47 1/4 in
63 x 47 1/4 in
Copyright the artist & Harlan Levey Projects
Estadio is a continuation of Marcin Dudek’s series of stadium and event portraits. Here, the piece delves into the 1964 Estadio Nacional disaster in Lima, Peru: this disaster, which occurred...
Estadio is a continuation of Marcin Dudek’s series of stadium and event portraits. Here, the piece delves into the 1964 Estadio Nacional disaster in Lima, Peru: this disaster, which occurred during a period of intense social unrest, began with a referee's call, escalated to a riot & left hundreds dead. In the lower right third of the panel, a small photograph from this event: a fan suspended in mid-motion, between a swinging police officer and a confused athlete. This fan is Víctor Vásquez, who was scapegoated for the tragedy due to his skin color.
Vásquez's oddly jutting arms create momentum for the rest of the composition, as the rest of the crowd fades into swarms of medical tape, burnt linen, and paint washes. The work reflects on the stadium as a site of societal tension, and explores one body’s place in history, as viewed through time, confusion, and misinformation.
Vásquez's oddly jutting arms create momentum for the rest of the composition, as the rest of the crowd fades into swarms of medical tape, burnt linen, and paint washes. The work reflects on the stadium as a site of societal tension, and explores one body’s place in history, as viewed through time, confusion, and misinformation.