WHERE WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE SEX?

This is a project is about sexual identity. Sexuality has always been a subject of great interest to people and socieNes; however, it has for a long Nme been impossible to discuss and to analyze it openly. Even now the discussions of sexuality are limited by what is considered to be “decent” and “acceptable”. Staying within those limits, my visual research is looking into whether people are prepared to talk about their own sexual experiences without feeling embarrassed or ashamed.
I am offering the subjects to take their portraits in locaNons, where they would like to have sex with their lovers. The subjects are choosing the locaNon, the Nme of day and the clothing that they would like to wear in the proposed situaNon. Will those locaNons be familiar to the viewer or, on the contrary, will they raise a few eyebrows? Why would anyone want to have sex anywhere outside the bedroom? How different are the fantasies of people living in Moscow, Paris and New York?

2015-2019

Jerry, 68 years old, SwedenI don’t have sex anymore and thanks God for that! I’m getting old and quitetired, but in my time I was very good at it! Now the only “sex” I’m having in mylife is to do with my henhouse, my chickens and ducks.
Jerry, 68 years old, SwedenI don’t have sex anymore and thanks God for that! I’m getting old and quitetired, but in my time I was very good at it! Now the only “sex” I’m having in mylife is to do with my henhouse, my chickens and ducks.
Alfiya, 24 years old, RussiaI think that it could happen on a roof with buildings around it, but not too closeto it. The roof should be covered in rose petals.
Alfiya, 24 years old, RussiaI think that it could happen on a roof with buildings around it, but not too closeto it. The roof should be covered in rose petals.
Andrea, 30 years old, ItalyIn Basilica di Sant’Ambrogio, MilanIn my mind, the Basilica di Sant’Ambrogio is the heart of Milan. Red thread symbolizes my connection with the city.
Andrea, 30 years old, ItalyIn Basilica di Sant’Ambrogio, MilanIn my mind, the Basilica di Sant’Ambrogio is the heart of Milan. Red thread symbolizes my connection with the city.
Natasha, 32 years old, ItalyThe elevator in a building, where the Russian fur salon is locatedI was thinking about this particular elevator, but actually it could be any similar elevator somewhere inthe heart of the city. Marble staircases, lacquered wooden doors, genuine leather sofas… I imaginemyself returning from a party, dressed in furs, and then all of a sudden my partner and I are passionstruck. I immediately feel like a crazy empress!
Natasha, 32 years old, ItalyThe elevator in a building, where the Russian fur salon is locatedI was thinking about this particular elevator, but actually it could be any similar elevator somewhere inthe heart of the city. Marble staircases, lacquered wooden doors, genuine leather sofas… I imaginemyself returning from a party, dressed in furs, and then all of a sudden my partner and I are passionstruck. I immediately feel like a crazy empress!
Bek, 29 years old, USADark Speakeasy Bars in NYC.
Bek, 29 years old, USADark Speakeasy Bars in NYC.
Simone and Robert, 38 years and 38 years old, USAWe picked the bathroom because one of us likes it clean and the other likes it a little smelly so the bathtub is a threshold in between the two conditions. But we won’t say who likes what.
Simone and Robert, 38 years and 38 years old, USAWe picked the bathroom because one of us likes it clean and the other likes it a little smelly so the bathtub is a threshold in between the two conditions. But we won’t say who likes what.
Gregory, 43 years old, USABrighton Beach.I would like to make love on an old wrought iron bed on the surf-breakers during a summer lightning storm. There would be thunder and driving rain. The seas would stand on end and the waves would wash over my partner and me until we couldn’t tell the difference between the seawater and the sweat from our bodies. Somehow Wagner would be playing in the background and the seagulls would be crying overhead.
Gregory, 43 years old, USABrighton Beach.I would like to make love on an old wrought iron bed on the surf-breakers during a summer lightning storm. There would be thunder and driving rain. The seas would stand on end and the waves would wash over my partner and me until we couldn’t tell the difference between the seawater and the sweat from our bodies. Somehow Wagner would be playing in the background and the seagulls would be crying overhead.
Chiara, 30 years old, ItalySex is the origin of life itself. I’d love to defeat death in the oldest ossuary church in Milan.
Chiara, 30 years old, ItalySex is the origin of life itself. I’d love to defeat death in the oldest ossuary church in Milan.
Where would you like to have sex. Maria Węsławska-Gribina
Sergio, 52 years old, ItalyIn Milan’s “Forlanini” park.I’d like to choose a spot somewhere in nature, to blend in, to merge into one.
Sergio, 52 years old, ItalyIn Milan’s “Forlanini” park.I’d like to choose a spot somewhere in nature, to blend in, to merge into one.
Alessandra, 31 years old, ItalyIt could be any open space in the city at night.
Alessandra, 31 years old, ItalyIt could be any open space in the city at night.
Yulia, 37 years old, GermanyTeufelsberg. BerlinI chose a former radar station on “Teufelsberg”. The Americans listened from here to the telecommunications of the Warsaw Pact countries. This place is least associated with the person I have thought of, but then more I want to do it here. Two days ago, dressed in the same gown, I said goodbye to him at his grave, and this shooting two weeks before the funeral was my last appeal to him.
Yulia, 37 years old, GermanyTeufelsberg. BerlinI chose a former radar station on “Teufelsberg”. The Americans listened from here to the telecommunications of the Warsaw Pact countries. This place is least associated with the person I have thought of, but then more I want to do it here. Two days ago, dressed in the same gown, I said goodbye to him at his grave, and this shooting two weeks before the funeral was my last appeal to him.
Julia and Gevork, 27 years and 30 years old, USAWe would like to have sex in an RV in a remote part of nature. Somewhere adventurous like under the stars, in a dessert or a forest, but also comfortable and cozy.
Julia and Gevork, 27 years and 30 years old, USAWe would like to have sex in an RV in a remote part of nature. Somewhere adventurous like under the stars, in a dessert or a forest, but also comfortable and cozy.
Angelika, 34 years old, AustriaI chose a laundromat, because I love life in the city and it’s one of my favourite places here. It’s agathering space for various unique crowds: people from hostels, travelers, or sometimes folks whosewashing machines at home went out of order. There is something romantic about it, because anythingcan happen here, the most interesting stories take place. I think it’s best to do your washing at night,when the city is asleep and you can only hear the sound of washers and dryers. While you wait for your washing, there really is not much to do. It’s a good time for sex. I mean, there are also vibrationsfrom the washing machines.
Angelika, 34 years old, AustriaI chose a laundromat, because I love life in the city and it’s one of my favourite places here. It’s agathering space for various unique crowds: people from hostels, travelers, or sometimes folks whosewashing machines at home went out of order. There is something romantic about it, because anythingcan happen here, the most interesting stories take place. I think it’s best to do your washing at night,when the city is asleep and you can only hear the sound of washers and dryers. While you wait for your washing, there really is not much to do. It’s a good time for sex. I mean, there are also vibrationsfrom the washing machines.
Where would you like to have sex. Maria Węsławska-Gribina
Giulia, ItalyThe roof of the Duomo Cathedral in Milan.
Giulia, ItalyThe roof of the Duomo Cathedral in Milan.
Valentina, 32 years old, AustriaI chose this place because I love water and fountains, especially at night.
Valentina, 32 years old, AustriaI chose this place because I love water and fountains, especially at night.
Gediminas, 26 years old, RussiaI would like to have this portrait taken in a booth of a Ferris wheel. Once Iactually tried to have sex in one of those with my girlfriend but it didn’t work.There just wasn’t enough time as the Ferris wheel goes round in eightminutes. We have since broken up with her and this location stirs nostalgicfeelings in me.
Gediminas, 26 years old, RussiaI would like to have this portrait taken in a booth of a Ferris wheel. Once Iactually tried to have sex in one of those with my girlfriend but it didn’t work.There just wasn’t enough time as the Ferris wheel goes round in eightminutes. We have since broken up with her and this location stirs nostalgicfeelings in me.
Christina, 26 years old, RussiaI’ve never dreamt of a particular location. I just imagined white empty space, because nothing couldhave existed at that moment around us. I picked red as a contrast to this infinite whiteness, so that I’mno longer a human, but just a line, a shape or a colour. Like in an abstract painting.
Christina, 26 years old, RussiaI’ve never dreamt of a particular location. I just imagined white empty space, because nothing couldhave existed at that moment around us. I picked red as a contrast to this infinite whiteness, so that I’mno longer a human, but just a line, a shape or a colour. Like in an abstract painting.
Lillymur, 71 years old, SwedenI am not a young woman anymore, but sex is still important to me. Now I knowfar more about it than I did when I was twenty. I’ve had this fantasy for quite along time, ever since I saw this couple in a yellow car. At my age having sexin a car might require some advanced gymnastics, but why shouldn’t I try it? Ayellow Volkswagen is almost like a Yellow Submarine!
Lillymur, 71 years old, SwedenI am not a young woman anymore, but sex is still important to me. Now I knowfar more about it than I did when I was twenty. I’ve had this fantasy for quite along time, ever since I saw this couple in a yellow car. At my age having sexin a car might require some advanced gymnastics, but why shouldn’t I try it? Ayellow Volkswagen is almost like a Yellow Submarine!
Lida, 26 years old, RussiaI’ve always wanted to have sex under the blooming sakuras. To me theseflowers are symbols of love, purity and tenderness. But on the day of theshoot the garden was closed. There was just one sakura growing neaby.
Lida, 26 years old, RussiaI’ve always wanted to have sex under the blooming sakuras. To me theseflowers are symbols of love, purity and tenderness. But on the day of theshoot the garden was closed. There was just one sakura growing neaby.
Vinod Lande, 41 years old, USAShakespeare Garden in Manhattan’s Central Park, because it is the heart of New York. It means a lotto me!
Vinod Lande, 41 years old, USAShakespeare Garden in Manhattan’s Central Park, because it is the heart of New York. It means a lotto me!
Mauro, 38 years old, ItalyI’m a chef. It’s my lunch break now. It would be great to do it in a confession box.
Mauro, 38 years old, ItalyI’m a chef. It’s my lunch break now. It would be great to do it in a confession box.
Sveta, 29 years old, RussiaSveta now lives in Rostov-on-Don, but she has previously lived in Moscowwhich she misses dearly. I photographed Sveta under the Novoandreevskiybridge when she was visiting her favourite city. “I think it could happen underthe bridge, it’s very romantic”
Sveta, 29 years old, RussiaSveta now lives in Rostov-on-Don, but she has previously lived in Moscowwhich she misses dearly. I photographed Sveta under the Novoandreevskiybridge when she was visiting her favourite city. “I think it could happen underthe bridge, it’s very romantic”
Andreas and Alex, 32 years and 32 years old, GreeceAndreas and Alex chose the top of Philopappou Hill (also known as Mouseion) overlooking theAcropolis in Athens.If we could travel in time, we’d choose the antiquity, when people were more open in manifesting theirattitudes to beauty, love and sex. They valued the beauty of the human body. Nakedness was notconsidered shameful. In my fantasies, we would like to make love in an ancient temple. Having surviveduntil our times, they remind us of the ancient way of life, of people’s attitude towards gods andtowards each other. For me it would be something like starting a time machine.
Andreas and Alex, 32 years and 32 years old, GreeceAndreas and Alex chose the top of Philopappou Hill (also known as Mouseion) overlooking theAcropolis in Athens.If we could travel in time, we’d choose the antiquity, when people were more open in manifesting theirattitudes to beauty, love and sex. They valued the beauty of the human body. Nakedness was notconsidered shameful. In my fantasies, we would like to make love in an ancient temple. Having surviveduntil our times, they remind us of the ancient way of life, of people’s attitude towards gods andtowards each other. For me it would be something like starting a time machine.
Jenny, 46 years old, USAI love an amazing backdrop, which is what that rooftop offers! I would say I like a rooftop.
Jenny, 46 years old, USAI love an amazing backdrop, which is what that rooftop offers! I would say I like a rooftop.