The Making Of A Man
Wrestling, Childhood & Post-Soviet Georgia

Edge of Humanity Magazine

12 months ago

Photographer Vincent Duluc-David is the Edge of Humanity Magazine contributor of this documentary photography. From the project ‘The only dream, Le seul rêve, ერთადერთი ოცნება’. To see Vincent ’s body of work, click on any photograph.

THE ONLY DREAM (Le seul rêve, ერთადერთი ოცნება) is a photo-documentary project set in Georgia, aiming to highlight the ambitions of children aspiring to become professional wrestlers. With a poetic and admiring gaze, Vincent Duluc-David captures the delicate balance between gentleness and violence.

Born of several trips made between 2023 and 2024 to this country, which has a long history with wrestling, this project explores social determinism and the notion of ‘making a man’. Georgia is deeply passionate about this sport, and children are initiated into it at a very early age. Wrestling is a way of building strong character, a school of life that consolidates a model of a robust man. Each child learns to fit in with social expectations, shaping his identity in the shadow of an omnipresent masculine figure. « Not all of them will become champions, but at least we’ll make men of them ».

Crystallized in post-Soviet environments that have suffered the ravages of time, the images explore historical, cultural and religious resonances, creating a palpable link between the past and the future in a country searching for independence, still marked by political tensions. In these degraded environments, every crack, every peeling wall, becomes a silent witness to the efforts and dreams that are forged there.

The training is intense and rigorous. Even when injured, the youngsters have to attend classes, watch the others and continue their weight training. Their sculpted bodies already bear the scars of the discipline: scratches, scars and, above all, those famous ‘cauliflower ears’, the result of repeated trauma and considered there as a symbol of pride and strength.

These young wrestlers, innocent like children yet serious like adults, show enthusiasm and timidity in their eyes. The portraits, in which the faces are sometimes hidden by effort or, on the contrary, captured head-on, are intended to act as a mirror. They take us back to our own childhood memories and our relationship with the transmission of values.

Through this visual quest, Vincent Duluc-David aims to reflect on how these children shape their future through the prism of a sport that defines not only their physical appearance but also their identity and their role in society.

THE ONLY DREAM aims to present a non-exhaustive aesthetic vision of the cultural similarities and differences between these young wrestlers while highlighting their sociological perspectives.

Vincent Duluc-David is a French director, editor, and photographer whose work delves into the human and social realities of identity, youth, and violence through a poetic and intimate lens.

Graduating from ESRA Paris in 2017, Vincent began his career working on diverse projects spanning fiction, advertising, and music videos. He has collaborated with acclaimed artists like Wong Kar Wai and prestigious brands such as Louis Vuitton. His five years as a trailer editor profoundly shaped his cinematic vision, honing his expertise in storytelling, sound design, and emotional impact through meticulous editing.

Vincent’s visual style is rooted in close observation, capturing raw emotions and fleeting moments while exploring contrasts.  In recognition of his work, he was named Emerging Talent 2024 by LensCulture. His short film Juvénile, released in 2021, established his authentic and aesthetic approach. He recently directed a music video for Rival Consoles, filmed in Kyrgyzstan, which combines stunning visuals with a compelling narrative.

Deeply inspired by his personal experiences, Vincent infuses his projects with sincerity and depth, driven by a quest to understand human connections, the natural world, and the mystical.

All images and text © Vincent Duluc-David