Therry Maltauro
Iron Generation, 2023
Photographs on Vinyl, 140 x 210 cm
Video, Looped
Framed Archival Photographs, Vintage Dumbbell (On Loan from King’s Gym in Dalston, London)
“The real workout starts when you want to stop.”
Ronnie Coleman, 8-time Mr. Olympia
Bodybuilding possesses a remarkable capacity to bring profound transformations in individuals, in terms of their physical and mental aspects. Achieve strength, discipline, and self-confidence, serving as a stimulus for personal growth. The true power of bodybuilding lies in its ability to reshape the physical form and the mindset, stimulating determination and a strong sense of self. It is through this process that individuals are empowered to achieve new levels of strength and confidence. The aesthetics of bodybuilding are characterized by muscularity, symmetry, and definition, creating a visually captivating exhibition of the human physique.
I am interested in the human body and its potential for transformation. In this work, I explore the world of bodybuilding; power, aesthetics, the motivation, and aspirations of individuals who push their bodies to physical limits in the pursuit of “perfection”, as well as the emotional and psychological factors that drive them, including their need for recognition.
As a female photographer and a member of the legendary King’s Gym in Dalston, I gained privileged access to this world. The King’s Gym has been operating since the 1980’s and has a loyal following of a bodybuilding community, with some eminent figures coming through its doors, including Arnold Schwarzenegger. The gym is owned by Lucas Queiroz, an award-winning bodybuilding champion, and Jose Roberto Soares who works independently in the gym, another award-winning bodybuilding champion - the two main subjects in this body of work.
By combining documentary and studio photography with moving images and archival photographs, I shift my gaze between classical modes of representation of bodybuilding performance and individual narratives; conscious of the impact of the contemporary, societal expectations of the male and female form and how these might shape their sense of self-worth.
