Personal space is a luxury. Over a two thirds of the world will never experience personal space the way the remaining one third does. However for the lucky ones who live in a culture based on ideas of personal liberty and happiness- personal space has become part of our culture. It has become a marker for socioeconomic status and a container for a myriad of possessions. It can serve as a sanctuary where one escapes the world, a storage for collectibles, a foundation for everyday living or simply a claim on territory. Given the chance to enter ones personal space you enter into a private world, a place of secrets, dreams, desires and hopes; you enter into a diary. Each object and possession a reflection of that individual- a reflection of culture, family and autonomy.
I set out wanting to understand my changing preteen- tweens they are called- the awkward stage between prepubescence and adolescence. This is a time of changing hormones and exposure to the "real" world in terms of sex, politics and money. This time is especially influenced, more so than ever, by culture, peers and the desire to shape and express a unique identity. I looked for makers of childhood and puberty, technology and analog experiences, consumerism and ephemeral objects. Along the way I found the weird, the absurd and the sentimental.
I learned to tread lightly and be trustworthy. Being allowed into this space and document it for others to see was like being handed the keys to a journal. A heavy burden when faced with the question of How much do I show? Do I open drawers and secret boxes with hidden treasures? Are these possessions embarrassing or mundane? Where do I stop?
These images are just the tip of the iceberg when considering the breadth of my tween's identity.
