Still from 'Cycle'

Artist Francesca Steele investigates the culture of bodybuilding in her practice, working with bodybuilders and also training for competition herself. She describes using bodybuilding as a way to investigate ideas of beauty and identity, defying the established culture of what constitutes ‘female’ beauty and moving towards a traditionally more masculine aesthetic. In the world of bodybuilding there is a constant striving for improvement, a culture of self-augmentation that will never be complete.

Bodybuilding exists outside mainstream sport and although steroid use remains controversial, it continues among many within the discipline. Separate ‘natural’ bodybuilding competitions are now widespread.