Many people experience loneliness, but they may not fully understand the feelings and discomfort caused by this emotion. Lonely people often feel a lack of understanding and connection, regardless of the number of social contacts.
It’s difficult to measure loneliness, but there are numerous studies on how loneliness, being a complex emotional state, negatively impacts physical and mental health.
Loneliness is a complex feeling that arises in the depths of human consciousness. It’s not just the lack of physical surroundings but rather a sense of loss of emotional connection and closeness to the world around. This psychological state can be triggered by various factors. Primarily, loneliness can result from social isolation. Modern technologies and the fast pace of daily life sometimes force people to isolate themselves from real life. Virtual connections can’t always replace real ones, which can ultimately lead to the feeling of loneliness and inferiority. The lack of physical communication, despite digital technologies and social networks, can also lead to emotional emptiness.
The death of relatives and close ones, the breakup of relationships, or living far from family and close friends can evoke a deep sense of loss and isolation. In such cases, a person finds themselves alone, facing inner struggles against loneliness.
The lack of communication also plays a role in shaping this state. In modern society, where work and the pursuit of success often become more important than personal relationships, the rapid change of priorities can cause internal emptiness. A person preoccupied with their career may not always notice how they are drifting away from their loved ones, and it may lead to a sense of loneliness even when they are around people. It’s essential to realize that loneliness is not always connected with physical isolation, and a person can feel lonely even in the company of others.
I often face this complex feeling when left alone with my thoughts: loneliness catches me off guard at home and creates challenges for my existence such as apathy, laziness, and powerlessness. Time becomes indefinite, stretching very slowly but passing very quickly. Each such time period is like Groundhog Day. I’m at home, in my place of strength, but I feel like I’m not here, and I don’t belong to myself in these moments. I wander around my apartment like a lost ghost, not knowing what to do or what to ponder. I feel like the loneliest whale in the world, singing at a frequency of 52 Hz, while all other whales use different frequencies. Complex family relationships, the absence of a partner and close contacts with peers, living in an apartment without roommates have led me to a chronic state of loneliness, regardless of where or in what community I find myself. Rare moments of enlightenment were with my friends and colleagues in photography.
The desire to understand myself, grasp the nature of this feeling, and its influence on my life prompted me to choose loneliness as a research topic, resulting in a series of self-portraits. Since I experienced this feeling during the research, I decided not to use the assistance of others in my photo shoots. I used a medium-format film camera and long exposures for the “ghostly” effect. I didn’t have to go far for the plots: I used readily available items and household objects in my parents’ apartment and in my rented apartment, where I had settled for some time. I also photographed in my parents’ apartment because, despite the many people who constantly lived there, I often caught myself on that feeling of being lost and lacking emotional connection with my roommates.
Despite its dark side, loneliness can also serve as a source of internal growth. During periods of solitude, a person turns to themselves, spends time in contemplation, leading to a better understanding of oneself and one’s values. Thus, loneliness can be a challenge for personal development and the search for inner harmony. It’s hard to say whether I found that harmony in the process of shooting this project, but it can certainly be noted that reflection, deep inner contemplation, and creative activity help cope with bouts of loneliness and make it easier to deal with it with less gloom.
About Aliaksei Matveyeu
His name is Aliaksei Matveyeu, and he is 29 years old. He was born in Vilnius, Lithuania, but has lived in Belarus for almost his entire life, identifying as Belarusian. Currently, he resides in Vilnius due to the war and political state of his country. Since his school days, he had been composing electronic music, releasing some albums, and performing at live and DJ gigs. However, a creative crisis in 2019 diminished his interest in music, prompting him to seek a new mode of self-expression. He began shooting on film in 2019, finding it a new way to express his feelings and interests in life. He has completed many photographic courses and lectures, undertaken several photographic projects, and is still in search of the perfect way to express himself through photography.
