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Recently we talked with very talented photographer Peter Zvonar who is also well known under the name of his brand Peter ERZVO Zvonar photography. Here is what he told us about his work and himself.

Tell us something more about yourself, who is Peter ERZVO Zvonar?

I am a man like anyone else. Only perhaps a little more courageous. More daring. I could never stand to see basic human rights violated, and human stupidity has always bothered me. Since my early years, I was asking questions nobody was prepared to answer. I always had my dreams. Since my childhood, I was always trying to fulfill them one by one, always following these dreams, in past as well as now.

A man who believes in man, who believes in love, and considers love to be one of the natural phenomenons, something that is in my opinion on the second place right after life. I believe in love which however does not necessarily need to be reciprocated, or which would require the presence of the beloved one. I believe in tolerance, in good, universe and angels, and I am convinced that everyone have a chance to change , step into the unknown without fear, and with belief that moves one forward. I am one of you.

You are photographing mainly men, nude male bodies, why? Don’t you have a problem with it in the country where you live and work?

I have never perceived it like that, because it was my main effort to do something that I enjoy, I do not deal with the consequences of what I do, maybe like most artists. Many people tell me that if I photograph this or that, I would never again have a normal order, and I would be labelled as an inappropriate photographer. I do not think about it. If I were thinking about something during my whole life, I would not be doing anything but sitting and trying to figure out what to do to be acceptable for everybody, society, family, friends, church...

Now there is a sort of witch - hunt going on in Slovakia regarding a referendum on family. It is all aimed not only against homosexuals, but mainly against basic human rigths. For me it is quite intense, it affects me a lot. It polarizes the society, and unfortunately many of my so-called friends suddenly started to “tolerate” me though in fact they have nothing against me. I mean, you can tolerate an opinion, or adultery, therefore the feeling of “being tolerated” is not at all positive. I can put up with it but it is worse for the young people from LGBTI community, who still have not revealed their identity. I know about many people who want to leave Slovakia and even abandon the Slovak citizenship.

PHOTO: PETER ERZVO ZVONAR

PHOTO: PETER ERZVO ZVONAR

We noticed that in most of your photographs you yourself are the model; with enthusiasm you put your photos on various social networks, why?

Why? Because I like myself, I am sexy, I have a good figure and I can make good faces (laughing). I always want to express something by my photographs, it is not enough for me to take a picture of my body, nude or half-nude. For me, there is a certain kind of symbolism in the fact that I am nude on the photo. It is not just a body, it is not my intention just to provoke, though it certainly is a provocation but in a different sense of the word. I want to initiate a discussion, I want to make people start thinking. To encourage them not to be scared, to put away their scruples, to get rid of agreements concluded a long time ago with family, system, religion. To be free in their way of thinking.

PHOTO: PETER ERZVO ZVONAR

PHOTO: PETER ERZVO ZVONAR

How do you find and convince your male models to stand in front of your camera? Are they mostly gay or heterosexual?

It is individual. I must admit that I find it easier to work with heterosexuals. In that case I do not have to deal with anything. It is important to me to photograph somebody who has a drive, charisma, it does not matter if it is a boy or a girl. There must be something exceptional in that person.

I know a very charismatic person who poses as a model for my photos. I have been working with him for one year, together we even made a photography exhibition in Prague, and we are preparing another, probably in Prague or Berlin. We will present there the photos of which he is the co-author.

PHOTO: PETER ERZVO ZVONAR

PHOTO: PETER ERZVO ZVONAR

When you photograph them naked don’t you have a problem with the fact that you might get excited?

I am a professional. It happened to me maybe once, when getting started with photography.

You're gay, is your partner jealous of your work, thus if you have a partner?

I have been without a partner for 3 years already. As I wrote above, I believe in love but it does not mean that I want to spend my whole life with one partner. A form of coexistence (if I can use this term) based on a free relationship. It would be enough for me if I love the person, and I am loved, we understand each other, but I would not mind if my partner meets somebody else as well, or I would also approve of a relationship that would not be based on just two people. Love should not be selfish, we should not try to usurp love.

To live with one partner, fall asleep together and wake up together, to see each other every day, all the time the same... that is not for me anymore. I can also love a person who is not with me, who is far away, who calls me from time to time when in need to hear my voice, or comes from time to time. We sit down together and talk all night long, we sleep together, accept each other with our mistakes, and do not try to change the other. Perhaps many people do not approve of such relationship, but it is up to everybody to decide for themselves. And this is my decision. It is a higher level of love.

PHOTO: PETER ERZVO ZVONAR

PHOTO: PETER ERZVO ZVONAR

Have you ever thought about making a whole in some world capitals, where people are more open and where there are more opportunities to have success?

Yes. I am very much attracted by New York. What I really need for my life and my work is a cosmopolitan city, where nobody would look around their shoulder if I walk down the street wearing a skirt and black military boots (laughing). Of course it is not only about people but also about opportunities. They are very limited here in Slovakia.

If I do not take photos for some fashion magazine, I have no chance. The positions of the photographers already working for these magazines are set in concrete. By the way, it happens to me quite often that exactly these photographers are trying to copy me. But only trying.

You are preparing a book together with your partner, what type of book will it be and when are we going to be able to buy it and where?

Yes. He is one of my models whom I mentioned above. A versatile artist from Praha, Jan Rejfek. Very charismatic, inteligent, and original. Complicated, but as for me, I am not too simple either and I need personalities around me. We met each other one year ago to take photos, and it resulted in a photography exhibition. Jan let me read a part of the book that he is writing, and I got enthusiastic about it. I do not know how it happened, but it was probably an idea of both of us to work together, on a book where we include my photos and also some photos that we take together, and his texts, reflections on life, culture, relationships, religions, etc. Thus a rare piece of work was originated.

Usually it works the other way round; a literary work is created as first and then the illustrations are added. I think that the demand for this book will be great, in my country as well as abroad, and I believe that it will move both of us in a new direction.

PHOTO: PETER ERZVO ZVONAR

PHOTO: PETER ERZVO ZVONAR

At the very end tell us what are your future plans?

I have big plans, very big plans, but I always split them into smaller goals that are easier to achieve. First of all, to take photos, photos, and photos and leave Slovakia. I can clearly see a road ahead of me, it was a narrow path at first, but now it is a road. I am going along this road thanks to my intuition, and I know it is the right road and that I am accompanied by the right people. And I am very grateful for it. And for this translation I have to say big thanks to my friend Jana Huncagova.

PHOTO: PETER ERZVO ZVONAR

More photos of Peter ERZVO Zvonar you can find on his official website www.erzvo.com.