In Pursuit of Muscle capitalizes on Susan Sontag's fret, 'to photograph is to appropriate the thing being photographed'. Utilising the photographs' relationship to authorship/ownership, and Judith Butler's theory of performativity; the project seeks to possess a desired boyhood and masculinity. Butler's gender as a 'perlocutionary', where gender is reified through behaviour produced by its existence, collapses the distinction between staged and documentary photography, prompting an exclusively staged practice. They utilise analogue film given the parallels between the chemical modes of inscription found in the darkroom and Paul B. Preciado's Pharmacopornographic regime, retaining 35mm borders as a visual anchor of the author's presence. The project is a finalist for the Dior Photography and Visual Arts Award for Young Talents, exhibiting in Arles, France between July and October, shortlisted for the National Portrait Gallery's Taylor Wessing Prize and a runner up for the Lynn Hewett Prize 2026.
HEROES, DECEMBER 2025, AS FEATURED IN IN PURSUIT OF MUSCLEBIKE AT HOME, JULY 2025, AS FEATURED IN IN PURSUIT OF MUSCLETWO TEENAGERS IN MAKESHIFT GYM, DECEMBER 2025, AS FEATURED IN IN PURSUIT OF MUSCLEPE, NOVEMBER 2025, AS FEATURED IN IN PURSUIT OF MUSCLEWEIGHTLIFTERS IN PURSUIT OF MUSCLE, FEBRUARY 2026, AS FEATURED IN IN PURSUIT OF MUSCLEWEIGHTLIFTERS IN PURSUIT OF MUSCLE, FEBRUARY 2026, AS FEATURED IN IN PURSUIT OF MUSCLEPE, NOVEMBER 2025, AS FEATURED IN IN PURSUIT OF MUSCLEPE, NOVEMBER 2025, AS FEATURED IN IN PURSUIT OF MUSCLEGLOVES, BAT, BALL, APRIL 2026, AS FEATURED IN IN PURSUIT OF MUSCLEWEIGHTLIFTER IN PURSUIT OF MUSCLE, FEBRUARY 2026, AS FEATURED IN IN PURSUIT OF MUSCLEJOCK, JULY 2025, AS FEATURED IN IN PURSUIT OF MUSCLE I am indebted to the generosity of so many people that helped make this project possible. Thank you to The Vintage Showroom in Clerkenwell, for so kindly lending the original garments from the 1950s-1970s, featured in ‘Weightlifters In Pursuit of Muscle’ and ‘Gloves, Bat Ball’ and for such consistent support throughout. Thank you to Bethnal Green Weightlifting Club for allowing me to use the space, Taha at London University for lending me american football helmets, Igor in Lewisham for lending me gym equipment, Florence, Bob and Tracey Gobey for letting me use their house in Lewisham. Luisa Boddey for her consistent editing and installation support. This project is also a product of its many collaborators. Marnie Smith; hair and makeup throughout the entire project. Amy Rose Fulcher, Jesse Peacock & Abbie Mitchell; styling. Eve Alexander & Leela Divakaran; photo assisting. The wonderful models, especially Theo and Ben who returned on numerous occasions for the project. My wonderful girlfriend Katie Poppy Minto for assisting throughout.