"HONESTLY" is the art project by Olia Fedorova, the Ukrainian artist who works with text and writing practices. It will be implemented in frames of "Woven Network / Women Network" - a 6-month virtual art-residence of 7 female artists from 5 European countries exploring the theme of invisible work and reinventing the hierarchic digital web to a real horizontal network, supported by House of Europe and partnering with Platform TU (Ukraine), Intrecult (Sweden) and Fablevision (Scotland). For this participatory project, we call different people, regardless of gender, age, nation or background, to contribute with their personal stories.
 
During the pandemic, when our entire normal life was destroyed, most of us faced tremendous stress, for many it led to mental problems and depression. Although the extent of this issue is still unknown, since not so many people admit it. At a time when everything went online, the power of social networks like Instagram has grown exponentially, and so did our need to represent ourselves in the better light to the society through them, as we couldn’t do it physically. This is how we found out that during the pandemic all our fellows have learned dozens of languages, gained hundreds of new skills, passed numerous online courses, spent the best time with their families and finally had a great rest. At the same time, we ourselves might have lost our jobs, got infected (or our beloved ones got infected or even passed away), experienced domestic violence, suffered panic attacks, prostration, fear, despair, suicidal thoughts or even attempts. 



Being surrounded with this Instagram image of quarantine life that we think all other people, except us, have, makes us feel even more lonely, makes us think that it’s something wrong with us. And the impossibility to give these feelings out - because of shame, or fear of being rejected and depreciated, or any other reasons that make us silence ourselves - poisons our life even more. This project is intended to let people speak out about their feelings during this pandemic, to share their honest lockdown reality. To reveal that feeling bad is normal - especially during such a disaster - that being weak, being afraid, being in despair is normal - and sharing it, and getting help and support is normal too. But if you don’t speak, no one hears and no one can help you. The more you hide, the more you get lost. It is a try to encourage people to come out into the light - to see that they are not alone.

To join the project please share your personal story - of your feelings and thoughts, of the actual quarantine reality you wouldn’t (or don’t) dare to talk about in public - in this questionnaire. You may do it anonymously or not. We won’t share any of your personal data with anyone, publicly or privately. Your story will be turned into an Instagram stories format, which will appear on Woven Network account - as an intervention of the actual image of the lockdown life to the sugar-coated Instagram reality.





P.S. We appreciate your courage and your strength, and we believe that you will cope with all the trials that will arise in front of you in these difficult times. But if you feel that you need to talk to someone else, please don’t hesitate to reach your local crisis hotline or refer to a professional psychotherapist.