“MENlancholy” by Kirill Muniabin is an ongoing documentary photography project exploring the inner lives of men who remain without romantic relationships, whether by choice or circumstance, and the emotional and social realities that accompany this experience. The series was prompted by the artist’s own family story — after his mother’s sudden death, his father chose a solitary path, challenging conventional expectations about masculinity and “normal” relational behaviour.

Muniabin’s work takes a sensitive, human-centred approach, portraying men of different ages and backgrounds who return each evening to empty homes and face a form of solitude that intersects with broader cultural norms about gender, connection and belonging. By visually examining how these men navigate loneliness, identity and societal stereotypes, MENlancholy invites reflection on emotional vulnerability, altered life trajectories and what it means to live outside prescribed narratives of relationships.