Still Tied

Still Tied is a film and installation accompanied by a booklet that present the craft of camouflage net-making through the narrated realities of Ukrainian communities, primarily those still living in central Ukraine, along with those that reside in Ireland. It depicts manifestations of communal grief, the longevity of the Russian war in Ukraine, and children’s forced involvement in weaponised violence. The nets seen in the installation were made by people from the Ukrainian Community in County Monaghan, currently the only one in Ireland that can sustain the regular open hours required for net-making. After the installation was dismantled, the nets were sent to the frontlines of Ukraine to serve their intended purpose protecting the military.

The booklets presented within installation provide additional context to the film. They include photographs of children engaged in netmaking as an example of the schools’ involvement and participation, as well as of Ukrainian volunteers whose stories contributed to the creation of this film. The booklets were available for grabs.

Camouflage nets have been widely used in Ukraine since the Russian invasion in 2014. Camouflage nets are specialised, lightweight coverings used to conceal military equipment, vehicles, and engineering structures against the background of terrain and vegetation from various enemy recon methods by mimicking the textures and colours found in nature.