I noticed this book displayed on the Creative Review blog a couple of months ago and thought it was a really interesting insight into the way that children around the world live in their 'personal space'. I was only recently reminded of it when I saw that it was also displayed in the Photography Annual, winning the prize for Best in Book.
The photographer James Mollison, came about with the idea when set a brief to create a project on the subject of children's rights. This led him to reflect on the role that having his own space as a child had on his childhood development.
Each room is displayed with an image of the child on a plain white background next to it - displaying each child as an equal, whilst showing each of their rooms which display their life and personality.
The cultural ideas behind the images are outstanding - from Kenya to Tokyo, Israel to Brazil. Some of the images are quite upsetting, especially the image of a 4-year-old boy who lives on the outskirts of Rome and sleeps on a mattress in a field with his family.
17-year-old 'X' who lives in Brazil
15-year-old Risa who lives in a Teahouse in Japan
4-year-old Jivan, who lives in a skyscraper in New York
Unnamed 4-year-old boy who lives on the outskirts of Rome and sleeps on the pictured mattress with his family
This reminds me of the 'shoebox' art exhibition which was at The Saatchi Gallery earlier this year. Kids recreated their bedrooms with shoeboxes some which were analysed by phycologists suggested that they were experiencing child abuse at home... I've just written blog about it..
ReplyDeleteThis is really interesting and a real insight into the contrast of cultures that people just aren't aware of in todays society. The starkness of the book generates more emotion because it allows the audience no other distractions and focus solely on the content. It's definitely an emotional rollercoaster and a good grounding of wider issues that the generic day to day.
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