Exploring loneliness through photography

To celebrate World Art Day, we spoke to Estonian photographer and curator Erika Tuulik about her project ‘Loneliness has no age’, which explores loneliness through photography.

Photograph by Lembe Aasorg

What prompted you to start a project exploring loneliness through photography?

The topic of loneliness has touched me personally for as long as I can remember.

Not knowing the source of this personal loneliness, I started looking for the reason. I tried to talk about it a couple of times a long time ago, but the reaction to this topic was surprising - in return for my openness, I received negative feedback, which did not help. I was left alone with this feeling - loneliness created loneliness, because the fear of judgment did not allow me to open up more. This personal experience made me suspect that I probably wasn't the only one left alone with this feeling.

This feeling spoke to me more deeply during the Covid period. In 2020, while working as a nurse in a hospital, I felt the need to make one of my dreams come true - by enrolling in the Estonian Academy of Arts to study photography. Here, I did my documentary work in a familiar environment - discreetly noticing through the lens the emotions of the elderly persons in a care facility. 

The photos prompted me to think about how to capture loneliness photographically without a physical person in the image. What form, structure or metaphor would I give to this feeling? How would others capture loneliness? After all, we are all wonderfully different and so is our emotional world. One idea led to another, and so I began to shape my thoughts into a project, involving other photographers in the project to create the most diverse output possible - thereby offering a broader opportunity for identification, a sense of belonging.

Mental health specialists Peaasi.ee were an important part of the project, helping to create clarity between “loneliness” and “solitude”. In Estonian, the difference between the two terms is only one letter, but the meaning is completely different. In addition, one of the important goals was not only to talk about loneliness through visuals, but also to discuss and look for opportunities in cooperation with specialists.

Photograph by Sanna Larmola

The project is inspired by the concept of ‘photovoice’ - can you elaborate on what this is and how it influences the work?

"Photovoice" has been a great inspiration, and a wonderful method of involving institutions to create positive change. For this project, the goal is to raise awareness of loneliness to encourage more tolerance and reduce judgement. 

An important nuance is that "photovoice" does not require photographic professionalism and thus allows all members of society to be involved. Our project has participants from very different backgrounds who have sent their photographic vision of loneliness. Among them are healthcare professionals, teachers, service workers, businessmen, scientists, etc. I am also delighted by the significant participation of professional artists, who shared powerful messages. "Photovoice" is about noticing together, creating a non-verbal dialogue through photographs.

Loneliness is often a difficult topic to discuss. In what ways do you think photography helps people to meet this topic?

Loneliness is a sensitive topic because it is often accompanied by stigma, a judgmental attitude. Does it come from standards formed by society, home upbringing, lack of empathy or awareness? I can't give a single answer to this, partly because I am not a mental health specialist and my competence is limited to my personal opinion. As a "person from the street" I can speculate that all of the aforementioned factors may be influencing factors.

Talking about loneliness can be difficult verbally, and this is where photography comes to the rescue. Images allow photographers to safely convey a message by sharing personal experience, philosophical reflection or a metaphorical approach to loneliness. A photograph is a powerful non-verbal form of speech, providing an exciting and important dialogue. This silent conversation can be the opportunity to identify, to belong, find comfort, hope and support.

Photograph by Kris Moor

You mention the therapeutic possibilities of photography. Can you explain more about this?

Writing the project without knowing the reaction and result in advance, there was one simple wish in my mind - if it helps even one person, then it all makes sense. Today I can say - it has helped. Expressing yourself through photography is already a relief - something important can be said without words and without fear of judgment, because it is the author of the photo who chooses what to show and how. In addition, the feeling of belonging to a group provides great added value. There are participants in the project who have noticed significantly improved self-esteem, an increased sense of belonging, and less loneliness.

This is also reflected in the viewers, who find photos they relate to and know that behind this photo is a real person who has experienced the same situation. Viewers have commented:

"Now I understand this feeling better"

"It's normal to feel and talk about it"

"I'm not alone in this feeling - others feel it too"

"Loneliness does not make me weak"

"Loneliness is not a diagnosis - it's an emotion"

All of this together creates a positive dynamic from which people can move forward and manage their feelings. The response from the viewers of the exhibitions has been surprising and positive. “It was expected to be something depressing and sad, but on the contrary - I leave with more awareness and positivity”.

You mention the therapeutic possibilities of photography. Can you explain more about this?

Over four hundred pictures were received in total. There were more pictures submitted than the exhibition space allowed for, so we had to make a selection. The aim of the project was to show loneliness from different perspectives, so the choice was varied; the shortlisted photographs were philosophical, personal, narrative-based, and - as it's a photo exhibition - the technical achievements of the images were also important.

The goal was to put together a collection that could tell a bigger story, showing differences in both the perception of loneliness and photographic output. The choice of pictures had to be understandable to the largest possible audience, because not all of us go to cultural institutions or love photography, but we all have mental health.

The project started with seventeen chosen photos; it’s now forty-three, and we are still open to new stories that could bring freshness to the project and spark new reflections.

I still feel grateful, especially to those creators who opened their very personal feelings to the world and shared their most vulnerable side; without knowing me, without meeting me beforehand. It is a trust that I treat with deep respect and gratitude. Personal stories are what bring loneliness even closer to the viewer and give the whole story immense value.

Photograph by Edgar Laksa

Are there any photographs in the collection which have made you think differently about loneliness?

I really liked that loneliness was also shown as a positive and creative emotion, because the goal of the project is not to popularize loneliness as a completely negative feeling. It was definitely a positive emotion for me. In addition, I was pleasantly surprised by the use of metaphor, which is a very effective tool and a photographically exciting expression, offering so many thoughts and variations.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

A photo project created by Estonian photographer and curator Erika Tuulik, “LONELINESS has no age” is a story about noticing. Noticing the person who's facing you in the mirror in the morning; noticing the person next to you, or opposite you. We are all different, as is our loneliness.

“LONELINESS has no age” began its journey as a physical exhibition in September 2023 and visited 8 Estonian cities with 10 exhibitions, reaching a virtual environment (www.yksildus.com) in October 2024 to reach an even larger audience.

The project raises questions, encourages reflection, and seeks solutions while refusing to make judgements or perpetuate shame. The perspectives of different photographers on loneliness allow the viewers to see this emotion from different angles and find a story that resonates with them.

'Exploring loneliness through photography' - Text by Erika Tuulik