Artwork description:

Balance in Gold belongs to the Golden Works series, a body of art exploring the modern glorification of fitness and physical perfection as a new form of spiritual devotion. Drawing on archival Soviet sport photography, this work captures the stillness and inner strength of a gymnast frozen mid-motion — exalted against a glowing, icon-like backdrop.

The figure is centered in a perfect handstand, his body tense and controlled, aligned with the bars that evoke both athletic discipline and a kind of symbolic altar. Behind him, a radiant yellow circle — hand-finished with gold leaf — glows like a sacred halo, referencing religious iconography. A small blue dot breaks the symmetry, hinting at modernity, branding, or celestial presence.

In Soviet times, sport was the only accepted form of collective belief, replacing traditional religion. This work reflects that cultural memory, while also commenting on today’s digital cult of the perfect body. Through gesture, light, and form, the athlete becomes an emblem of both faith and aspiration — a modern icon for the age of wellness.

Materials used:

Print on paper with passepartout

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