ROOM COMPOSITIONS
ROOM COMPOSITIONS
Each image in this series, made of 300 to 350 layers, illustrates a unique room that has acted as a temporary home for a student at one point or another. This project captures the student experience from a vulnerable perspective; splaying out the unfiltered rendition of their room. In this project the viewer can experience each image in three stages; the raw image, a closer look, and the hidden story featuring the conversation, or messaging string, the project builds on.
The harsh, even lighting of the ring flash exposes every inch of the student's experience. Student stereotypes (dirty dishes, unwashed clothes), passions (music, crocheting), highs (birthday celebrations), and lows (funerals) can be seen throughout Room Compositions.
ARTIST COMMENTARY
Starting my first year at the University of Bristol, a big part of the student culture was the club setting - which Bristol is very well known for. And that is how the project actually began; looking at ways and artists, such as Dina Litovsky and Martin Parr, who have photographed nightlife or simulated the club scene. Their work really struck my interest when it came to the
natural, raw look captured in their images.
But while figuring out the logistics, the term progressed and I began to meet people who didn't go out clubbing, which I found myself doing less of too. Photographing club nights didn't seem like a true representation of student life anymore.
But while figuring out the logistics, the term progressed and I began to meet people who didn't go out clubbing, which I found myself doing less of too. Photographing club nights didn't seem like a true representation of student life anymore.
Moving away from the freshers' frenzy of clubbing, I wanted to rethink this project. While looking around my room, I noticed everything sitting in front of me reflected how I was living alongside my university course, and I immediately thought to document it.
As a lifelong fan of his work, I decided to adopt Martin Parr's use of the ring flash; giving me the raw, exposed effect I was aiming for. My stylistic preference of layering the photographs came from a failed attempt at creating a realistic rendition, inspired by Menno Aden's Room Portraits. You could say that the method I have chosen is a bit messy, but it illustrates what students are experiencing; especially freshers, who become students for the first time. Having been one, I can say that your life at that point, is made up of hundreds of elements and these compositions reflect that.
Room Compositions documents the student lifestyle and culture that consists of doing all sorts of things, testing everything out. And saying 'my life has been messy, but that's the life I have right now. And that's completely... fine'.