Men: A Heart Study

Margaret Koudriaev is a young artist whose work explores the themes of intimacy and vulnerability. Men: A Heart Study is a perfect example of this focus.

Inspired by a conversation with an acquaintance, a 45-year-old man who confessed to her that he had never been in love, Koudriaev - who has fallen in love twice at half that age - initiated a series of filmed interviews with men, in which she allowed her subjects free rein to discuss, disclose and discover their thoughts on love and relationships. The conclusion of each interview was an anonymous portrait of the individual's bare chest, or, as Koudriaev would say: a portrait of an open heart.

The men whose portraits and stories constitute Men: A Heart Study were recruited through dating apps and social situations, resulting in a diverse group, from single 19-year-olds to married men in their 50’s.  Each interview begins with the same question: “Have you ever been in love?”  And that is where the conversations take a life of their own, leading to different, unexpected paths, and raising new questions.

Although the initial objective of the project was simply to have a better understanding of how men think, it has evolved into a space for men to be vulnerable. Koudriaev points out that women (herself included) are quick to villainize men as the cause of the pain in their relationships. But she has learned that men are, in fact, looking for a safe forum for their feelings, something that women have always taken for granted. In our society, when women are open about their emotions, they are celebrated for their strength; whereas men still remain silent, for fear of being emasculated. 

Men: A Heart Study is dedicated to the artist's younger brothers and their own quest for love. 

The photo is a portrait of their chest.