Arrideo Photography: the indomitable gay artistic impulse


By DREW Rowsome
29 Jun 2022

"My story is not the worst one," says Victor Vysochin the creative force behind Arrideo Photography. "There are people suffering from the war much more than me. I have been lucky to survive. On February 24, 2022 my boyfriend and I woke up late. We usually turn off the sound on our phones before going to bed, and we were surprised to see dozens of unanswered phone calls from our relatives and friends. Immediately we understood that something awful was happening."

Way back in 2017, when Tumblr was a freewheeling sex-positive space and I had a very popular (and mildly racy) account, I made the acquaintance of Vysochin, a Ukrainian photographer. He peppered me with suggestions of photographers that MyGayToronto.com and MGT magazine might want to feature. When Tumblr essentially shuttered. we continued the conversation on other social media platforms. Then the pandemic hit and most of my journalistic projects were put on hold. When I heard from Vysochin again, things had changed drastically for him

"When we looked out of the window, we saw hundreds of cars in the streets trying to escape the city. And then we heard distant explosions. During the first days of the war, we had to hide in the basement with my elderly parents. And I must say, basements in apartment buildings in my country are usually dirty places not intended to stay or live in. There were dozens of other people hiding with us, too. Then my parents decided to stay at the nearby metro station converted into a shelter. I could not and still cannot believe it is a reality."

A harsh reality. One existing on the eve of Pride in North America where celebrations and political posturing have pushed the horrific news from Ukraine out of the headlines. Vysochin, very aware of his precarious position, wants to get his story and his art out into the world. It is an honour to be able to help with that.

"On March 1, my Mom told me she ran out of her anti-diabetes drugs, so my boyfriend and I started searching. Many pharmacies were closed but we managed to find one that was working and joined the long line of people waiting outside. All of a sudden, a missile flew by and a part of it hit the ground a short distance from the line of people. Everyone was scared to death but people kept on waiting in line. Finally, we got the drugs. That day I decided we have to evacuate my parents. Normally, from our home to the railway station takes 40 minutes by metro. That morning we tried to call a taxi but in vain. Thousands of people were doing the same. Finally, a neighbour managed to get a phone number of taxi drivers who delivered people to the railway station. The normal fee before the war was 70 hryvnyas [a Ukrainian hryvnya is equivalent to 44 Canadian cents] but we had to pay 1,000 hryvnyas. 

"While on the way to the station, we could not recognize the city. Buildings and schools were destroyed, cars damaged, shop windows broken. When we got to the railway station, a rocket hit a nearby building. We spent about six hours at the station with thousands of other people trying to get an evacuation train but in vain. Crowds were trying to board trains, people shouting, women and children crying. Trains were packed with people, their luggage and their pets. We decided to leave the station building to get to the platforms. It was the right decision because we heard an extra evacuation train to Vinnytsya  announced. We ran to the next platform and managed to get two seats for my parents. They had their seats while my boyfriend and I had to stand all the way. Normally, it takes about six to eight hours to get to Vinnytsya depending on the train but we spent more than 14 hours in the train. Without working toilets. At one moment, I was so tired I felt I was going to fall down. I lay down on the floor amongst people’s feet and managed to sleep for 20 minutes.

"When we got to Vinnytsya, we had to wait for another train to Ternopil where my relatives live. We stayed there for several days and then my parents went abroad while we stayed in Ternopil. We lived at relatives, at a student’s hostel, a school that was converted into a refugee center, and at the apartment of a gay man who let us stay for free. Being men, we were obliged to register with the local military service. My boyfriend was officially recognized as unfit for military service because of his health, and he got the opportunity to leave Ukraine and start working in Poland. He used to be married and has children of school age, so he has to support them. According to the law, I cannot leave Ukraine because I may be required to serve in the army. However, I don’t have any military experience and haven't served yet. Now, I stay at an LGBT+ shelter." 

Despite assistance from the LGBT+ network, it is an underground and finite network. Though Vysochin's website contains many photographs from Pride marches before the war, being gay in Ukraine is not easy. "It is a temporary shelter, and LGBT+ people are supposed to stay there for a limited time. I will have to find another shelter or rent a shared room if I can afford it. I work as a photographer at an art center in Lviv but it’s a part-time job - two or three reportage shoots per week - and I still don’t know whether I will be able to afford to rent a room. From time to time, I read about LGBT people being attacked by opponents and even police and territorial defense officers. When my boyfriend and I were at a park, three military men approached us for a regular document check. They checked our pockets and telephones, and found homoerotic images there. They started showing them to each other laughing. It was humiliating but worked out since they did not put any pressure on us directly. The entire check lasted for an hour and a half because they decided to check our documents via special security databases in case we were criminals, russian spies or someone like that. Finally, they returned our documents and let us go."

Vyshochin is very aware that it could be worse. He requests that I not capitalize the words "russia" or "russian" because "when I write this country without a capital letter, it is my way to show how much I despise and hate them and all its people supporting the war and killings of the Ukrainian people. So, I kindly ask you not to. When back in Kharkiv, I was very frightened when russian troops entered the city both because of my obvious anti-russian position on social networks and for being openly gay. I was afraid they would arrest or even kill me. Fortunately, the Ukrainian army managed to drive the enemy away from the city. Now they keep shelling the city randomly and destroying apartment buildings, hospitals, supermarkets, markets, gas stations, entire infrastructure… So, there is no returning home as of yet."

Vysochin recounts anonymous hate messages and death threats he has received on Instagram. "My friends tried to persuade me to go to the police but I don’t think it will help. There are good policemen who would try to help but most of them are basically homophobic. When we stayed at a hostel, there was a drunk man who said that he would kill me if it turns out I’m gay. At the same time, there are many straight people in Ukraine who support LGBT+ rights and people, and it brings hope."

Hope is a basic quality of Vysochin's character. And his art. But reality sinks in when I try to untangle his multiple monikers. "Arrideo Photography is my artistic name," he explains. "Actually, my real name in Ukrainian is Viktor Makhnov. When I started shooting male nudes, I decided to take an artistic name for security reasons because of the wide prevalence of homophobic people. I chose the name Victor Vysochin (it was my granny’s maiden name) and Arrideo Photography. Arrideo means 'smile back' in Latin. Now when I came out, I am not afraid of using my real name anymore."  

The names are personal and so is the art. "Many photographers make a business out of photography but not me. My mind is not commercial, and I shoot for free too often. I used to work as a freelance translator translating texts from English into Ukrainian or russian (it’s my second native language), and at the same time I studied photography and conducted my first photoshoots as an amateur photographer. Then I joined a local magazine covering cultural events in the city. Two years later, when it ceased to exist, my colleagues and I established an online magazine of our own. It was a review of cultural events in the city and country, and I volunteered there as a deputy editor-in-chief, photo editor and photographer. And I worked as a photo studio administrator for almost two years before the war." 

All those career and artistic plans are now on hold. "Just before the war, I completed my 'Women in Art' photo project devoted to prominent women in Kharkiv's cultural life. An offline exhibition was scheduled for March 1 but the war spoiled all the plans. At first, I could not touch my camera. While in exile, I could take photos of my boyfriend only. We were staying in a comparatively conservative region, and it was almost impossible to find other men for art nude photosets. Moreover, during the war, it is prohibited to take photos of important buildings and everything related to damages, militaries, etc. You need to have a special accreditation and permit to shoot the results of war, but it’s very hard to get one nowadays. One day, I took a photo of a bird’s nest in the street, and territorial defense officers stopped us, checked our documents and told me not to shoot in the streets anymore." 

Vysochin's passions inspire his art. "I’m gay, and that’s why men attract me as objects for photoshoots. I love taking pictures of men. I love looking into their eyes and seeing myself in them. I love studying their features, faces and bodies. I am crazy about taking pictures of naked men. Young or advanced in age, slim or body positive, gay, bi-curious, non-binary and straight, all of them are beautiful. I can see their doubts and their vulnerabilities, their shyness and their weaknesses. I find myself in them. I become stronger and open up myself through them." 

Again there are complications. "In addition to standard Instagram and Facebook censorship, there are some legal issues in Ukraine. According to obsolete norms of Ukrainian legislation, shooting and publishing nudity can be recognized as the propagation of pornography. And be prosecuted. Most law enforcement does not care about this but, from time to time before the war, policemen arrested a woman showing her breasts online and others for shooting content for OnlyFans. In this respect, I support the position of the Ukrainian political party named Democratychna Sokyra or Democratic Axe. Among other things, they fight for total decriminalization of sex work including shooting and publishing nudes. except for cases when underage people are involved. To be sure, children and teenagers must be protected from sexual exploitation and pornography. As for adult and grown up people, they should be totally free in terms of using their own bodies according to their preferences."

I ask where Vysochin sees his art fitting into the porn vs art debate. "Actually, I don’t have a formal photography education, and it’s difficult for me to discuss such things as art. I just shoot as I feel and trying to depict what I see. I prefer thinking it’s more art than porn despite of hardcore images in my portfolio. To my mind, porn intends to promote sexual arousal and further physical relief, so to say. It accentuates genitals and their contact while real art tries to depict the soul, spirit, emotions and feelings. Even though genitals are presented. That’s what I think and believe. And I have naïve dreams that my art will eventually help decriminalize sex work and depicting adult nude people in my country. At the same time, I am sure that I would succeed much more if I lived in a country where this art is free from legal restrictions, and where there are more people wanting to pose for me naked." 

Vysochin has generated content for OnlyFans accounts and aesthetics override his personal tastes. When I ask about the striking series of photos involving BDSM imagery he says, " I am not into BDSM myself. I just was asked to shoot a BDSM event. Even though it’s not my avenue, I had to explore it. It made me accept all forms of sexuality even though I do not feel like practicing them in my private life. Ninety percent of the people I shot are not professional models, just regular people living next door. When I shoot, I don’t care about people’s orientation, body type or muscles. Every person is beautiful, and I try to find this beauty in everyone I shoot. I do what I can to make people at ease. I search for a better angle and view to show the model’s innermost feelings and soul. At the same time, a lot depends on the model, too. To me, a good model is a person who is open to something new, to cooperation and creation with the photographer. The best photos can be achieved when it’s mutual involvement and contribution into the process."  

And how does he find his models?  "It depends. Sometimes I write to people via dating apps, sometimes they contact me when they see my work on social networks. There is also word of mouth. Some people recommend me to their friends. And many men want to try an erotic photoshoot because they want to see how their bodies look. Or want to have high-quality photos to publish on dating apps. Or nudes to send to their potential partners. All people are different. Some can be open, others are moderate and shy. Usually, I discuss all aspects of the photoshoot with potential models and answer all their questions in advance. So, when we start shooting, most people know what to expect and feel at ease. If I see that a person is nervous, I always ask what’s wrong. I listen to them, I try to make them comfortable. When needed, we can drink a cup of tea or even a glass of alcohol together if it’s what the model needs to relax. I demonstrate the best shots to the models, cheer them up, compliment them. And I always tell that it’s just a photoshoot, I am ready to delete any photos they do not like. That helps in most cases." 

Some models are found closer to home than next door. "My boyfriend Alex and I have an open relationship, and a small part of my models began as sex partners. However, it’s rather an exception because I don’t have sex with my models. When I shoot, I feel excited as a creator, mentally, not physically. It’s professional but I don’t feel sexual arousal when I create. I met Alex in January, 2020. so we’ve been together for more than two years. He is not just a boyfriend, he is my muse and biggest fan and supporter. I started shooting him at once, and the very first result of our collaboration was published by German Pornceptual magazine as a part of their 'Isolation Porn' series." (pornceptual.com/victor-and-alex-in-isolation/  )

Vysochin's portfolio contains many loving and erotic photos of Alex. So many that Alex has created an OnlyFans account onlyfans.com/lx_dyak. "I prefer thinking I do not do porn," says Vysochin. "Art porn maximum." Viewing Vyshochin's oeuvre, one has to agree. Yes, there is abundant nudity in defiance of traditional Ukrainian mores and a heady mixture of eroticism, explicitness and classical studies of the male form. It is horrifying to think that this artistic quest is being interrupted and threatened. Vysochin still has hope for the future. "When it’s war, it’s impossible to plan anything. I just want to live and create, I want my people to stay safe and I do hope Ukraine will win soon so that I can see my boyfriend and relatives. At the same time, I would like to create a book of my erotic works and offer it for sale, and donate a portion of the proceeds to the Ukrainian army. I would like to write a book about my life. I hope people will join our Patreon and OnlyFans pages and become loyal supporters. And thanks to your Government and people supporting Ukraine, providing aid, donating and spreading the word about the war in Ukraine. I cannot ask for more."