Your bedroom describes who you are in more ways than you may think. While living in Paris yet originally from South Africa, Jack Thackwray photographed his friend, sitting in the center of his bedroom and locking eyes with the camera.
Taking his idea global, Thackwray began the My Room Project traveling to 55 different countries to capture an inside glance at the lives of young adults born from the 80’s and 90’s all over the world. He photographed more than a thousand millennials, contacting them through social media or speaking to strangers on the street. He finished the photo session with a few questions to get to know the bedroom owner a little better, on topics such as lifestyle, love, education, religion, or local issues. The 18 to 30 year olds consist of students, artists, salespersons, mothers, film directors, engineers, soldiers and many more occupations.
From Kenya, Japan, France or Bolivia, the photos portray the individual in an intimate environment: where they sleep. Thackwray used an angle from above for viewers to peer into the lives of the young adults. With each photo taken from the same perspective, the photo series captures the varying cultural differences yet uniquely exposes our unifying humanity.
A peek inside the bedroom similarly reveals personality traits such as organization or lack-there-of for certain young adults. The facial expressions and clothing bring a visible illustration of the individual. The lifestyles and interests can also be spotted within the bedroom where some cultures have strong branding and merchandise while others contain more art crafts or decorate simply with different fabrics. Musical instruments and technology vary between individuals; electronics range from televisions, computers, blow dryers, fans, video games, or nothing at all.
In some cultures, the bedroom is a space for individual thought, relaxation and rest. Yet for others the bedroom is shared between family members or is a multi-functional space with many uses. While some may choose which type of flooring or wall color they prefer, not everyone possesses this choice. The bedroom floors range from wood, cement, carpeting or earth. Architectural structure of the room also differs with circles, rectangles or squares. Some rooms favor a window while other cultures require solid walls to keep the warmth inside.
The living conditions and socioeconomic situation may highlight the differences, yet each bedroom is fitted with the same essentials: warm blankets and place to sleep. In a time where society faces many struggles to combat bigotry, the photo series aims to bring awareness, not judgment, to our humanity. Jack Thackwray succeeds at bringing a new perspective to the lives of those in our generation.
To learn more about My Room Project, check out the website: www.myroomphotos.com
Équipe HEConomist
