The Secret to Success print, 2022

Edition size of 222

Unframed

60 cm x 40 cm

23 2/3 in. x 15 3/4 in.

Print will be rolled for shipping

Individualization

Each edition is individualized by the artist himself airbrushing his iconic smiling face onto the bodybuilders' faces.

"'The secret to success' is the title of my bodybuilder painting. Bodybuilding is a subject I have made fun of since I was a kid. I never understood why anyone would spend so much time lifting weights to compete with other people to see who had the nicest body. It always seemed so pointless to me. But at some stage, I saw it differently: what inspired me was their determination and perseverance shaping their body.

In order to keep their body in shape, they are repeating the same thing every day – lifting weights. What I find interesting in painting these muscular bodies is how our human mind sees those bodies and what we associate with them. Even the ancient Greeks had statues of their best athletes with very muscular bodies that represented success, fame and respect.

When I saw bodybuilders as a kid, I had the impression: 'wow, those guys are so big and strong, they must be as strong as superheroes.' Besides that, my bodybuilder images have certain humor that I like to incorporate into my work. I still think bodybuilding is something pretty pointless – even boring. Oiled-up guys and girls compete to see who has nicer and bigger muscles. But since I have been using airbrush, I find it super fun and interesting to paint these shiny, oiled-up, muscular bodies. Determination, perseverance and hard work is the bodybuilder's 'secret to success'. Which is yours?" – Evgen Čopi Gorišek