“Bodies chiselled directly from sheer muscle. Premature écorchés. Giants with delicate skin. Bodybuilders, who have been, for a long time now, drawing their strength from the physical performances inherent to athletes, display the image of a Western man half-way between ancient Hercules and modern anatomical models. They show what they have under their skin, their muscles and veins, but nothing more. They want to prove and show what they are able to turn themselves into: deliberately enlarged bodies. Competitions are therefore as many occasions to compare their mussels, to assess, observe and evaluate each other. These competitions are very peculiar shows that celebrate the cult of the body, continuously staged for the public eye. Behind the scene, things are a little different; they go back to speak and move as anyone else. They come back to life. Thus, what happened in the meantime? “
Seloua Luste Bulbina