Seen at the Sydney Maritime Museum

FITNESS TO SUPERFISH

Today body image seems more important than ever, certainly fitness is sought after and worked at by many. We no longer simply visit the local pool but are patrons of the aquatic fitness centre for auqa-aerobic classes, turbo spas and lapping workouts. We respect lane etiquette and are wary of pool rage.

Elite swimmers are promoted in and out of the pool as superstars, models of behaviour and the body beautiful. The competitive edge is stronger because millions of sponsorship dollars are riding on the performance and personalities of these superfish. With the help of computer enhanced images, the media projects their bodies as strange, hybrid forms...the swimmer becomes an amphibious creature 'from the deep'.

This is a photo of Australian swimmer Scott Miller with fish. Editors of Black + White magazine call it wearing the Olympic uniform of the ancient Greeks. Photographer John Davis.



This photo reminded me of a photo sent to me by my coworker, WL. For three months while working with WL I'd listen and participate in his phone conversations with his best friend "John" (who later became his Best Man at WL's wedding). Until one day I've had it and asked WL what his friend looks like.
WL then said, "I don't have a photo of my friend, but I have a photo of his iguana." And this is what he sent me... [face painted to maintain privacy]

And another photo from the same exhibit about the History of Swimming in Australia.

Craig Holmes celebrates the male body and its narcissistic reflection, 1999.

Photographer: Craig Holmes.