Your name
Constantine Musinyan
Place of birth

Artik (Shirak Region), Armenia
Place where you live now
Yerevan, Armenia
3 words to describe you
Smart, cute, anxious
Why do you take pictures?
Sometimes I feel that I have to take pictures, but it helps me notice things I might have overlooked.
Where do you get your inspiration?
I draw inspiration from vintage fashion magazines, photography archives, architecture, food — and sometimes, surprisingly, from cleaning my balcony.
Who are your influences?
Alec Soth, Mark Borthwick, Paolo Roversi, Van Leo
What determines the subject matter you choose?
I’m drawn to unpretentious people who don't seek a lot of attention but have a little spark in them. The most important part is approaching them without any expectations, as sometimes that can lead to really personal and meaningful experiences.
What impact would you like your art to have?
Showing the beauty of ordinary people and things
What artwork do you never get bored with?
Cy Twombly Contemplation of the Chrysanthemum
Is there anything you want to add?
I wanted to extend my heartfelt thanks for the opportunity to connect with you and be featured in see-zeen.

Shaped by the stream
Project statement

The concept of masculinity in Armenia is deeply rooted in its patriarchal structure, where a man’s worth is often determined by his ability to fulfill traditional roles such as the breadwinner, the protector, the leader of the household, or even the hero of the motherland. These expectations present men as symbols of strength, limiting their ability to show vulnerability in public or deviate from societal norms.

In this set structure of the traditional narrative Armenian men grapple with a duality of balancing the pressures of patriarchal standards and the emerging desire for authenticity. This project delves into their hidden complexities. It peels back the layers of masculinity to reveal its subjects’ neglected emotions and internal struggles. By challenging the dominant archetypes, it raises questions: What does it mean to be a man in a modern, post-Soviet society? Where does a man fit within the evolving landscape of gender roles? And most importantly, how does one navigate the conflict of shaping identity under the pressure of societal expectations?

The process of documenting this theme carries its own emotional weight. Men photographed here do not shy away from exposing their bodies, engaging with the photographer candidly and vulnerably. The act of being photographed in a crowded environment where judgmental gazes are unavoidable becomes an intimate form of self-expression. Photographer and subject share a silent understanding - the process is both revealing and freeing. It offers a rare separation from the collective identity imposed upon them.

Ponds and lakes in this series serve as portals for escape from city life - thick jeans over wet underwear and sandy feet in sneakers form a raw, tangible symbol of setting loose from restraints. However, this environment still reflects a grittier, yet equally beautiful reality. The simple act of retreating to these waters reveals a quiet rebellion against urban uniformity and a desire to reconnect with something pure and untamed.

This project does not claim to answer the question, “What is to be a man?” Instead, it embraces the ambiguity of the question itself. It does not portray masculinity as a fixed role but as a multi-dimensional experience shaped by internal and external factors. Acknowledging himself as part of the flow that the system has set, the subject starts to be still in the stream, instead of flowing.

@constantinemusinyan