Artist in conversation: Anastasiia Vald
Anastasiia Vald is a digital artist whose practice explores the social dimensions of solitude and connection. She founded Loneliness is…, a platform devoted to opening dialogue around loneliness — discover more at www.lonelinessisproject.com.
How big of a problem is loneliness in the world today, and why did you decide to speak about it?
According to the World Health Organization (2024), loneliness is now considered a major global health challenge, affecting millions and increasing the risks of serious health issues. For me, loneliness is not an abstract idea — it’s a deeply personal experience. In 2022, I crossed the border into Poland with my 10-month-old daughter in a sling, fleeing the war in Ukraine. I left behind my home, my family, my friends, my language, my job — everything that made life familiar. Moving to England with my baby, I lived through an intense period of loneliness, completely rebuilding my life from scratch. It reshaped my understanding of reality. I no longer had the comfort of family nearby, friends I could visit, or a career I could return to. Even the language around me was no longer my own. This project is my way of giving voice to what often stays hidden — showing that loneliness isn’t the end, but a part of the human journey that shapes who we are.
How did the idea for this project come to you?
In September 2024, at 28 years old, I became a student in London. I had two assignments: to create a website and a photo project. While my classmates quickly found their topics, I struggled. I didn’t want to choose something just to tick a box. I wanted it to matter. Then, one day, the idea came naturally. I realised I could take my experience — the loneliness I had lived through — and explore it through the stories of others. Not telling my own story directly, but holding space for others to share theirs.
That’s how the Loneliness Is Project was born. It started as a student project, but it has grown into something I feel deeply connected to. I see the impact it has on people who read these stories, and it gives me the energy to continue. My next dream is to find charity partners who believe in this work, and help it reach even more hearts.
How do you create a safe space for people to open up about something as private as loneliness?
I know how vulnerable it feels to talk about loneliness — because I have lived it myself. From the beginning, I told every participant: you only share what you are ready to share. Nothing more. I sent thoughtful questions beforehand and gently asked follow-up questions when I sensed there was more they wished to say but couldn’t find the words. It was never about digging into pain. It was about reflection, kindness, and creating a space where people could see their own journey clearly. Some of the real stories shared with me: a young woman grieving her mother; a woman for whom loneliness is a constant companion; a young man missing his home and family; and a wife holding onto her husband’s wedding ring while they live separated by borders and oceans. Every story is deeply human. Every person trusted me with a piece of their heart.
And I am grateful beyond words — to them, and also to myself, for creating that space of trust.
Why do you believe it’s important to invite people to share their own stories?
Because until we meet a real person living through loneliness, it remains just an idea — distant and abstract. Our society often celebrates strength, success, happiness — but vulnerability is kept hidden. Sharing personal stories changes that. It reminds us that loneliness isn’t something rare or shameful; it’s a part of being human. Real stories connect us to each other. They make invisible feelings visible.
Why do you think so many people hide their loneliness behind a smile?
From my own life, I know how easy it is to smile while feeling completely alone. After leaving Ukraine, during one of the loneliest periods of my life, I smiled in almost every photograph. For a long time, I looked back at those pictures and thought, “Maybe it wasn’t so bad if I could still smile.” But in reality, that smile was a shield — a way to protect myself from the pain, from pity, from even admitting to myself how deeply lonely I felt. That’s why, in the Loneliness Is Project, you will often see people smiling.
Loneliness does not always wear tears — often, it hides behind the brightest smiles.
If someone feels lonely right now, what would you want them to know through your project?
If you are feeling lonely, please know this: your story matters. Loneliness does not make you weak — it makes you human. Through the Loneliness Is Project, I want to create a space where your experience can be seen and heard. If you feel ready, it would be an honour to tell your story. And if you are not comfortable showing your face, that’s absolutely fine — we can share your experience through other images: your hands, your surroundings, your memories. You are not invisible. Your loneliness is valid — and your story has the power to reach others who need it.