Being single
A simple word “single” has no equivalent in Russian except a lumpy phrase “not in relationship now”. If you are a single female, you feel lonely quite often. It might be something about Russian mentality, or gender bug, or pressure of mass culture — or all of those things together, combined with some personal issues. The fact is: some places and situations increase loneliness en emphasize the very fact of your being single.
Sometimes it’s just unpleasant, sometimes it’s uncomfortable with a tinge of guilt, like it’s almost indecent to be single.
I asked single girls, when and where do they feel extremely lonely.
And we went there — to experience it all in all.
When I was just looking for the heroes, my friend told me — “I don’t understand what makes people to demonstrate such things”. And that’s the thing I wanted to speak about, too. To show that it’s not a shame, not indecent and not a taboo — to be single and to be emotional over it.
The project exists in book form and was shown in the group exhibition Photofaculty-53 (2012) among the best works
![Being single. Victoria Dini Art](https://i.wfolio.ru/x/pZD5Y2XMN0E4oh1rMRrOi59T91hv_dxn/HFX8lg4thx8RZmVgaDi6r7cAvKvGUEtO/09oPOJN0yDPkEM4YFx3iVGVQhY7dUIXc/hCJ5YZDOQ7ON2zLgEwN7Qx_2pJQJU8nh/lre1S5gcSUr6mb_tCLyghg.jpg)
Katia, 21
“Feeling lonely is waiting late at night for the bus from the underground to your home. And when there’s nobody at home but a cat”
![Being single. Victoria Dini Art](https://i.wfolio.ru/x/5_hvIHxOwsROVQu44F-dncc0etcemHqg/ZeI-tiZfASdFuPgMXxL9ExC48lBxpwcW/TpWhwFJz-WNkWYP5QEMMLYD3yTnrYxhD/jEfzaqKTw6CiyD2IVGR6YSSwakgUcBqF/2RlMfFzD6WZ8_nDhD_KDtQ.jpg)
Zhenya, 24
“The sharpest feeling is when some silly thing can be done together and there is no silly partner. Recently, for example, there was no one to have a foam stick duel with. Even at concerts it is felt. And, of course, it’s more pleasant to go to the cinema as a couple”.
![Being single. Victoria Dini Art](https://i.wfolio.ru/x/0SLKSUoQsDMBd7S4l6J91AK2tjWFRdo1/4403BwmSz4nfM4gFBIjNK-LPt9NjSE3c/oAvLWsIK4QgZqzm-uw3yBbSJu7HkoHTP/URa-_FuMYNdVML5VXfpjygaP_CZRXjNH/NRQos_4TvHA_fLIXFkT--A.jpg)
Julia, 29
“In the company of a couple. On a weekend in a big supermarket, where everyone is with families and children. When there is no one to share the daily chores and discussions with — like “what are you having for breakfast?” or “I went to the shop, what should I buy?”
![Being single. Victoria Dini Art](https://i.wfolio.ru/x/9LOUjcRPYcb0cjix7pYfY6lFLkLpDJla/Q5tQrkdrNS8WdMnmFXIqq-K_TF9q1ehc/qUUaARdrmK4Odyr-Y-5TLERg59KajWsv/XopRgJ8zjAkx7uhf7wahTiexRHMj9AfQ/v6HuBC7phrDY-aHDyYNkaw.jpg)
Nastia, 18
“I feel loneliest in coffee shops, where there are lots and lots of couples. I work as a bartender, so I see them quite often, and it feels especially lonely when I’m constantly in front of them. I often sit with a book somewhere after work, in my spare time. You don’t see couples behind a book”.
![Being single. Victoria Dini Art](https://i.wfolio.ru/x/0SLKSUoQsDMBd7S4l6J91AK2tjWFRdo1/4403BwmSz4nfM4gFBIjNK-LPt9NjSE3c/oAvLWsIK4QgZqzm-uw3yBbSJu7HkoHTP/URa-_FuMYNfblT48_dSPmNaL7RzHkQqi/Kke93dQjopCFVgXV4lHCuQ.jpg)
Ira, 26
“In beautiful places — when you want to share the joy of what you have seen/experienced with those closest to you, and there is no such closest person”.
![Being single. Victoria Dini Art](https://i.wfolio.ru/x/0SLKSUoQsDMBd7S4l6J91AK2tjWFRdo1/4403BwmSz4nfM4gFBIjNK-LPt9NjSE3c/oAvLWsIK4QgZqzm-uw3yBbSJu7HkoHTP/URa-_FuMYNeCJz3JwERUHtloVJl1fhrB/5gPONsM19mOKkKsDvQqzrA.jpg)
Dasha, 30
“I can’t watch a cool but scary movie by myself because I’m scared. I can’t zip up my dress. And in Ikea, where everyone goes with their families, I don’t feel very comfortable, of course.”
![Being single. Victoria Dini Art](https://i.wfolio.ru/x/0SLKSUoQsDMBd7S4l6J91AK2tjWFRdo1/4403BwmSz4nfM4gFBIjNK-LPt9NjSE3c/oAvLWsIK4QgZqzm-uw3yBbSJu7HkoHTP/URa-_FuMYNdTUbaBxRQC-Uxxd-4qcca8/0QfmHoENaUOQF9-f_DpxJQ.jpg)
Nusha, 38
“When something breaks down at home. When you have to pick up your friends' children from kindergarten. And when there is no one to feed for lunch or dinner”.
2012