Serhiy Melnitchenko
Schwarzenegger is my idol, 2012–2013
About the Works
Schwarzenegger is my idol is a story about young guys from Mykolaiv (Ukraine) who are united by one thing — a goal to become the best of the best, and they will do everything possible to achieve it. The photos show young people who engage in athletics, acrobatics, fitness, and bodybuilding. I asked one of the boys to tell me what role his hobby plays in his life. Here’s what he told me: «For me, my sport is what I live for. Daily control and hard work is what leads me to success. Sport disciplines a man, enabling him to understand the value of labour and the value of choice. I always wanted to be something more than an ordinary man in the street, more colossal than an ordinary representative of society, so in my sport, I do all the best I can, because I want to reach the topю» Why are my models naked in photos? I think it adds a kind of courage and naturalness. Of course, it also looks funny and ironic.
Serhiy Melnychenko
About the Artist
Born in 1991 in Mykolayiv, Ukraine. Started photography in 2009. In 2018 founded the School of conceptual and art photography MYPH. In recent years, he has taken part in more than 150 solo and group exhibitions, fairs and festivals around the world. Winner of Ukrainian and international awards including Leica Oskar Barnack Award Newcomer in 2017 (Berlin), Photographer of the Year in 2012, 2013 and 2016 (Kyiv, Ukraine), Golden Camera in 2012 (Kyiv, Ukraine). Shortlisted for Krakow Photomonth in 2013 and Pinchuk Art Center Prize in 2015, among others. Participant in Paris Photo, Volta Art Fair, Photo L.A., Photo Basel, Unseen fair etc. Nominated for the Foam Paul Huf Award in 2020. From 2022 part of the Alexander Tutsek-Stiftung foundation (Münich, Germany).
Part of the FUTURES PHOTOGRAPHY platform in 2022. Works are in private and public collections in the USA, Hong Kong, Ukraine, Poland, France, Germany, Belgium, Russia, Lithuania, Czech Republic, Japan, Netherlands, Italy, Switzerland etc.
