💪 Queen of the Mountains

Fisfis's art has always had a profound impact on my own creations, and my work was never particularly extreme until I came across his pieces in 2005. His ability to depict the human form with such stunning realism, capturing the volume and the tension of muscles in the most delightful way, left me breathless.

Compared to my early works where bodies often seemed made of plush without musculature, seeing Fisfis's art was a revelation. It has since then been my strongest source of inspiration as I could study and learn from his many incredible creations.

Fisfis, a master of the art of extreme contortion, has been creating since the early 1980s. His work is often reminiscent of the Conan the Barbarian/Red Sonja films that were very popular at the time. It's not like I was there to experience it firsthand, but I've always found the 1980s fascinating, like some people are drawn to ancient Greece/Rome, I guess.

His contortionist characters, who are typically fit and beautiful women, often perform their feats with the assistance of strong men, who help them hold their bodies in the most flexible positions only an artist could possibly imagine...

This artwork is one of my all-time favorites – so powerful, beautiful and full of passion for the body. It's not just about making an extreme pose, but using your own strength to push your muscles to the limit. The willpower in this piece is almost tangible. She is the perfect barbarian girl, strong and beautiful – ready to fight or love with equal intensity.

This artwork has been a great inspiration for me over many years, so I tried my own interpretation of it, a small tribute to Fisfis and the amazing world of contortion he has built in his art.

I had the chance to chat with Fisfis on emails back in 2005, but sadly haven't seen him online since '07, when he mentioned spending evenings in the dim light of his room, trying to paint as much as he can before it gets too late. It crossed my mind that it might've been his own hands that posted many of his masterpieces on Picturama in 2016, however, this is just an assumption on my part.