Beyond the Body is the result of an unlikely meeting between Tomasz Gudzowaty and Nan Goldin, who represent diametrically different personalities, sensibilities, and modes of artistic creation, yet both of whom stand behind stunningly clear, consistent visions. Goldin draws on Gudzowaty's rich archive to create her own narrative-detached from its original thematic context and purpose to form a continuous fl ow of images that reaches a deeper, metaphysical dimension of sport. The people in the photographs-fl ying, fl oating, upside down-strive to escape, to liberate themselves from corporeal limitations, and to transcend their physical boundaries in order to attain a mystical state of mind. As Goldin lucidly puts it: "They are breaking the rules of how we are bound to the earth."

Born in 1971, Tomasz Gudzowaty is a Polish documentary and portrait photographer who has won many major international photography competitions, including World Press Photo and Pictures of the Year International. He has spent the last two decades pursuing diverse subjects from wildlife to social issues and sport, creating a body of work with a consistent visual message and intellectual vision. His photography has been exhibited globally and published in magazines and newspapers such as Max, L'Equipe, Newsweek, Forbes, Time, Photo, GQ, The Guardian, National Geographic, British Journal of Photography, and Vogue Italia. Gudzowaty is also the author of several books. In 2009 he was invited by Nan Goldin to participate in the exhibition "Ça me touche" which she curated for the 40th Recontres d'Arles festival. This marked the beginning of their collaboration on Beyond the Body.