Off-Foot Soccer is a creative look at the great narratives of football (soccer) through the artwork of Case Jernigan.
Case has finished several new images- all inspired by specific segments from the exceptional book ‘Soccer in Sun and Shadow’ by Eduardo Galeano. They are primarily drawings with ink, but there are other techniques like cut paper and collage as well. There are references to ancient and Renaissance art, as well as religious iconography in most of the pieces.
The first picture shows Didi, the Botafogo legend, with various religious and spiritual iconography related to his promise to march to the Botafogo clubhouse from the Maracana after winning the championship. There are also images related to superstition, such as the Goya inspired owls floating over his head.
The second image shows Cesareo Onzari, the Argentinian credited with scoring the first goal directly from a corner. He stands with various elements floating over his head or in a dream. The wind, the pitch, a left foot, and a Greek figure based on the name ‘Olympic Goal.’
The third image shows Diego Maradona running with multiple ‘Hands of God.’ The hands are inspired by ancient reliquary that housed the remains of saints hands. These were typically encrusted with jewels and made of precious metals.
The fourth image depicts Gerd Muller, der Bomber, shadowed by a hunched figure in a cloak and a wolf. This image was inspired by Galeano’s reference to Muller as a disguised wolf on the pitch. He viewed him as a kind of werewolf.
The fifth image shows small hand drawings of Johan Cruyff in action, moving past an imaginary defender. Case made the drawings by slowing down a clip of Cruyff and making fast sketches of him in motion.