This is a story inspired by the myth of the cave (the famous allegory used by Plato in Book 7 of his dialogue "The Republic"). While the original thought of Plato is different, I was hooked on the idea of the image-shadow being shown to an unmoving person.

The hero of my shoot is openly gay Max.

His battle with himself is reflected in these images. The pressure of society, represented by the female figure on the wall. The bound hands are an allegory for the discomfort of being out of your place, with which it is possible but unpleasant to exist. The confinement of one's essence, loss, falling into decay, cave, merging with the scene and other people's attitudes, incomprehension, dullness, brokenness.

He gets tired of living like this.

Thought. Ray. Separation. Decision. Persistence. Fight. Liberation. Exploring new.

Throughout this series, the hero transforms from an oppressed character into Tarzan, learning and organically suited to the new environment. Max has opened up himself to the world he was previously afraid of. Threw off the bonds that had been placed on him by society and by his own person.

A story with a happy ending, huh? Well.

It's terrible that people in the LGBTQ+ community still have to go through all this in some places and literally pull out the happiness with their teeth.

Let's support human happiness.

Everyone deserves to be who they are as long as it doesn't violate the freedoms of others.

Photo made in Kyiv, Ukraine. 2022.