Отцы / FATHERS
Проект «Отцы» посвящен исследованию самоидентификации современного российского мужчины через родительство. Для женщины подобная тема сама по себе естественна и близка. Женщина начинает осмысливать своё гипотетическое материнство с детства. Неважно – есть ли у неё дети, собирается ли она их иметь или намеревается остаться бездетной. Она всегда представляет себе новое качество собственной жизни. Знает заранее, что материнство отразится не только на привычном укладе жизни, но и навсегда изменит статус и саму ее сущность в глазах социума и в её же собственных глазах. «Мать» и «не-мать» — это основополагающие категории женской идентичности.
Всё не так однозначно, когда речь идет об отцовстве. Оно не так часто становится предметом интереса художников, работающих с темами самоидентификации и самопрезентации, значительно меньше присутствует в визуальной дискуссии. Готов ли современный мужчина быть отцом? Должен ли он чего- то достичь (и чего именно), прежде чем “заводить” детей? Влияет ли наличие детей у свободной женщины на новые отношения с мужчинами? Как мужчины к этому относятся и готовы ли они принять чужих детей? Все эти вопросы Мария Ионова-Грибина исследует в своей портретной серии “Отцы”. Проект несет в себе элемент перформанса: автор приглашает на съемку бездетных мужчин (бездетность и совершеннолетие — единственные требования к моделям), но не сообщает им тему и предполагаемые обстоятельства съемки. Согласившегося добровольца художница знакомит со своими детьми и предлагает представить, что теперь это его дети. Чем бы он мог с ними заняться? Помочь с уроками или поиграть? Вместе приготовить обед или починить самокат? Фотограф исследует сознательное и бессознательное поведение мужчины перед камерой: не откажется ли он от съемки, будет чувствовать себя свободно или скованно, насколько язык его тела отразит его психологическое состояние.
2014
“Fathers” is a visual performance by Russian artist Maria Ionova-Gribina that explores how Russian men identify themselves through parenting. Childless young men are invited to be photographed without being informed about the theme. They are introduced to Maria’s children and asked how they would spend time with them as if they were their parent and to share their thoughts on fatherhood.
The idea came to Maria when her fellow photographer asked her to take his picture for a self portraits project. He asked Maria to make the picture as personal as possible. Portrait also had to reflect them both as artists. For Maria contemporary portrait is a lot about investigation. It has to answer or rather raise some questions. After thinking about it for a while, she has decided to assign him a role of the father of her children. That’s how the project began. “We do know much more about mother-child relations than we do about fathers”, Maria says ‚“how they interact with children, how that affects childhood development and how it reflects on both men and children”. Research on fathers is a fascinating field of study, which currently tends to raise far more questions than it answers, but while couples share many of the concerns about having children men have their own distinct worries.
Today, potential fathers who are scared of commitment are the attribute of modern western society. “Russian men are more immature than European men, for example”, Maria says. Statistics do show that the average marriage age in Russia has increased by 3 years since 90’s. But is it because it takes more time for a man to grow into parenting or has Russian institute of marriage transformed into “western model” with higher average marriage age and less premature marriages? Maria let’s a viewer decide by accompanying the images with quotes of her subjects.
The resume she makes for herself is that nothing is permanent; she is absolutely sure that men who are scared of the idea of a child today could become great fathers in the future. «It’s also so much about love, the majority of men I photographed said they were ready to marry a woman with kids from previous marriage if they were in love».
For the record, though divorced, Maria is not currently looking for a father for Luka and Fiodor.
2014
Kostya with Fiodor
Men’s thoughts on raising children: "Your attitude shifts as you age. When young, you’re like, “never!” But the older you get, the more you see yourself as a dad. "
Vic with children
Men’s thoughts on raising children:“There is considerable pressure from a society where family and children are considered an essential value; and there’s more pressure the older you get.”
Artiom with children
Men’s thoughts on raising children:“Before taking on the responsibility of rearing someone, people should first rear themselves.”
Sasha with Luka
Men’s thoughts on raising children: “It’s crucial that kids don’t invade my personal space and my comfort zone. I like peace and quiet.”
Kamil with children
Men’s thoughts on raising children: “A future father has to achieve much in terms of personal development. Raising a child is a challenging and responsible job.”
Misha with children
Men’s thoughts on raising children: “I realize that if a kid comes along I’ll have to adapt my life to his or her needs. I see this as a drawback, and I haven’t yet identified any advantages.”
Nikita and Fiodor
Men’s thoughts on raising children: “The birth of a child is an experiment with numerous variables.”
Liosha with children
Men’s thoughts on raising children: “It’s better to have kids before you achieve anything. You just won’t have time for them later.”
Vania with children
Men’s thoughts on raising children: “I think all a future father needs to attain is a sense of security.”
Gesha with children
Men’s thoughts on raising children: “In the end it’s the woman who makes the decision.”
Misha with children
Men’s thoughts on raising children: “Kids throw tantrums, make noise, and otherwise deprive you of your right for a peaceful life.”
Andrey with children
Men’s thoughts on raising children: “Small children scare me. I don’t know what to do with them.”
Gleb with children
Men’s thoughts on raising children: “A child is the pinnacle of my love towards his mother, the pinnacle of my life experience and worldview.”
Vlad with children
Men’s thoughts on raising children: “The older a man gets, the more he thinks about kids – becoming aware, planning, making sense of it all.”