South African-born photographer John Thackwray probably doesn't spend much time in his bedroom. Why? Because he's too busy photographing the bedrooms of others!
He's spent over 6 years photographing over one thousand people's bedrooms from 55 countries for his photo-series titled My Room Project. It started out as a bit of fun with friends in Paris but since then his project has taken him everywhere from Mexico and Russia to Nepal and Japan. Thackwray only photographs the bedrooms of people born in the 80s and 90s in order to capture and compare the different hopes and aspirations of one particular generation. He also interviews them about various topics including lifestyle, local issues, education, religion, and love, and he's combined a selection of his photographs and interviews for a book that's available for pre-order on his website.
More info: John Thackwray (h/t: brightside)
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Manyatta, Kenya, Ezekiel, 22--Year-Old Warrior
Joy can be found everywhere, even in such difficult circumstances. I wonder why we, who are so much more well-off, can't find a way to smile like this man sometimes.
La Paz, Bolivia, Marcello, 18-Year-Old High School Student
Tehran, Iran, Elahe, 29-Year-Old Painter
No if it is long enough, it means you can rotate as you like in your sleep, you will still *not* dangling out. On my normal rectangular bed I find myself with feet dangling out because I dared to rotate 30 degrees or so. A round base solves it :)
Load More Replies...No she fits in the bracket for a millennial! I am 30 and a Millennial too!
Load More Replies...Kathmandu, Nepal, Pema, 22-Year-Old Buddhism Student
Zhambyl, Kazakhstan, Zhalay, 18-Year-Old High School Student
And this is nowhere close to reality of an 18-year old kid. The yurts are only used in summer. Take it from a girl who was born In Zhambyl currently known as Taraz, Kazakhstan
Why are people down voting you? I believe you, it's not his room, it's his vacation getaway.
Load More Replies...Well, it's obvious that it's just a set up for photo shoot. Real occupied yurtas will have thicker walls and floor, all the bedding and any other furniture will have ornaments as it's handmade by the women of the family.
Yeah ... and? He lives in a tent, I guess ... ;)
Load More Replies...Paris, France, Joseph, 30-Year-Old Artist
I think the roof of the room is missing and he just does a parkour run right up the wall and leaps over the side when he needs to get out.
Load More Replies...Millennials = Generation Y = people born between the early 1980's and 2000's
Load More Replies...Kingston, Jamaica, Camille
Istanbul, Turkey, Gulle
Gulle (with Turkish letters, 'Gülle') mean is "cannon-ball" in Turkish. I have to admit that, you may hear lots of name which have weird meaning. But I never ever heard as name "gülle".
I think, her name should be 'Güllü'. There is no 'Gulle' in Turkey. Trust me, i'm Turkish :)
Çok garip isimler var Kürtçe de gule var mesela olabilir..ama güllü de bir ihtimal.
Load More Replies...Bucharest, Romania, Andreea, 24-Year-Old Civil Engineer
that fan looks like it would tickle you in your sleep with those streamers
Parchetul, recamierul si hainele de pe scaune fac poza autentica :))
Tokyo, Japan, Ryoko, 25-Year-Old Information Technology Engineer
She is a sweet lolita! :-) It is an innocent, modest and cute fashion that originated in Japan but is growing in popularity worldwide. While it may be hard for some to imagine, especially if adorable things are not for you, it takes a lot of confidence to wear these outfits as they differ greatly from everyday wear, but like any other fashion it can be so rewarding to express yourself through your own personal style. She looks sooo happy!
The typical Japanese bedroom. I lived in Japan twice as a kid, and my bedrooms in Japan were less than half the size of my bedrooms in Texas. I had to leave most of my personal stuff in storage because it wouldn't fit. My room in Nagoya was very similar to this too. Rose pink carpet and teeny tiny!
Seriously ? someone call 911, this girl must be kidnapped by psycho pedophile since 20 years !!!
Berlin, Germany, Maja, 22-Year-Old Architecture Student
What s wrong with Ikea furniture? Are you too rich to own pieces designed and produced by them? Or too snobby?
no no it's just amusing to see that this picture really illustrates what's almost a stereotype ! i think it wasn't meant to be mocking !
Load More Replies...I am german and the most of my furniture isn't like that! I i know soooo many people like me. But i'm oder than Maja...maybe it's because of this...
the name is very common in german countries
Load More Replies...Beirut, Lebanon, Sabrina, 27-Year-Old Kindergarten Teacher
Saint Catherine, Egypt, Mohamed, 18-Year-Old Student Of Traditional Medicine
they call it traditional medicine,, we call it weed lol
Load More Replies...One could learn a lot in one afternoon with this person in his room!
Dali, China, Yuan, 22-Year-Old Salesperson
I live in China...the separation between rich and poor classes is enormous!
Teheran, Iran, Razieh
I think it's where the chair is. The photographer must be telling them where their furniture should go.
Load More Replies...Paris, France, Derek, 30-Year-Old Movie Director
Things I've learned today: 1) Bedrooms in Paris don't have doors 2) French artists live in colorful and creative chaos
Lesotho, Osia, 18-Year-Old Shepherd
Last time I checked Lesotho was very different that South Africa. It is a separate country.
It's not that different. You could find many South African rooms that look just the same. I'm South African and have been to Lesotho. It is a separate country but there is a lot of migration between the two. There are very few job opportunities in Lesotho so many Sotho people work in the big cities of South Africa.
Load More Replies...Novosibirsk, Russia, Oleg, 24-Year-Old Telecom Engineer
On the corner of sofa, that small strip men bag it's typical for every Russian man.
Sibundoy, Colombia, Marixa, 21-Year-Old Teacher
Teaching is one of the most important professional practice and, as you can see, not respected for what it should be... She deserves more.
The vegetables are there because it's part of their culture and they worship corn and have it in their altar .
Cairo, Egypt, Azza, 19-Year-Old Homemaker
I'm pretty sure it has something to do with mysterious and ancient magic. It might also be a trap.
Load More Replies...I wonder if she has her own room or shares this with her husband. It is a big enough bed for two. Should have both people in the picture if they share the room.
Thies, Senegal, Fatou, 17-Year-Old Seamstress
Varanasi, India, Lalu,
Some of these look so... Disney-like! And then others decidedly less so, sadly.
India is f*****g diverse. If you continue to portray India as a nation who is uneducated and still uses cattle as a means of transport, you are the problem. We are a nation that is striving to overcome all of this, and you conveniently use a picture like this. Fine, nothing wrong in that, this is one existing side.. but don't showcase it as if this is the ONLY Side. Our youth is determined and intelligent, ambitious too. Do not stereotype us. This is the second damned picture in the series.
Everyone gets stereotyped in life. Deal with it. Trust me, Indians don't get stereotyped as much as some other ethnicities!!! .. But I agree with you, they should have someone with a nice looking room. Maybe the photographer likes sharing realities that contrast the western world? Who knows .. Ask for an Indian photographer next time, and you'll get the full 360 degrees.
Load More Replies...Ban Sai Ngam, Thailand, Fha
Madyah Pradesh, India, Asha, 17-Year-Old Homemaker
Stay at home wife. You do housework maybe yard work, make sure nothing falls to disrepair, make sure you have all the groceries and household goods you need, cook, support husband's career with things like making sure he his clothes are in good condition, he is up early, well fed. That kind of thing. Also prepare your home for children and raise those if you plan on it.
Load More Replies...India is f*****g diverse. If you continue to portray India as a nation who is uneducated and still uses cattle as a means of transport, you are the problem. We are a nation that is striving to overcome all of this, and you conveniently use a picture like this. Fine, nothing wrong in that, this is one existing side.. but don't showcase it as if this is the ONLY Side. Our youth is determined and intelligent, ambitious too. Do not stereotype us.
I am from India,and I fail to understand whatever it is that you find wrong/offensive in this picture.Really though, it is a room of a 17 year old normal everyday-middle class Indian girl.Wouldn't it be surprising if a superly luxurious room was portrayed?they've shown it the way it is.Stop whining
Load More Replies...Nairobi, Kenya, Alice, 29-Year-Old Mother
Durban, South Africa, Khetiwe, 22-Year-Old Unemployed
Chitungwiza, Zimbabwe, Ronia
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Saleh, 30-Year-Old Human Resources Officer
Ugh...typical! Al Hilal FC bedsheets! Is he actually 10 by any chance
New York, USA, Maleeq, 28-Year-Old Entertainer
I think each person has laid out some things that are special to them (not all it looks like though).
Load More Replies...that does not represent an american and thay made it a black guy not to be racist bout shouldnt they not do a minority
Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, Claudio, 24-Year-Old Archivist
The series is a bit odd. I wonder what the people were told...some rooms look like they supposedely look everyday, others look like they were told to showcase particular hobbies, others like the idea was to depict stereotypes. Ben from Dallas is the perfect example for this. Thus, the series exhibits some interesting views, but getting an idea how people typically sleep around the world is not possible.
A nice thing, though, is that most of these people look rather happy...even if the rooms look what would be considered "poor" from a Western point of view.
Load More Replies...Despite the fact that some rooms seem to ''be prepared'' for the photoshoot, I like the concept. It's eye-opening, interesting and definetely ''feeds'' your curiosity.
This is a very interesting, and informative article, but I feel it is rather "biased". Although the different rooms show culture and the lifestyles of people around the world, most of them are based of personaloty, gender, or career. Especially eith the one that is all pink. But, this is entirely my opinion.
Staged or not it still is interesting to see what others have or don't have in their bedrooms.
couldn't stand the severe fish eye lense. No real scope of space. But a nice snippet into the lives of some strangers.
Would have enjoyed it more if it hadn't been sterotypicalized. It's blatantly staged. Very sad it would have been such an interesting series.
I don't see anything wrong with Colombia and Brazil as American too.. Remember separate by country not by continent.
Load More Replies...The series is a bit odd. I wonder what the people were told...some rooms look like they supposedely look everyday, others look like they were told to showcase particular hobbies, others like the idea was to depict stereotypes. Ben from Dallas is the perfect example for this. Thus, the series exhibits some interesting views, but getting an idea how people typically sleep around the world is not possible.
A nice thing, though, is that most of these people look rather happy...even if the rooms look what would be considered "poor" from a Western point of view.
Load More Replies...Despite the fact that some rooms seem to ''be prepared'' for the photoshoot, I like the concept. It's eye-opening, interesting and definetely ''feeds'' your curiosity.
This is a very interesting, and informative article, but I feel it is rather "biased". Although the different rooms show culture and the lifestyles of people around the world, most of them are based of personaloty, gender, or career. Especially eith the one that is all pink. But, this is entirely my opinion.
Staged or not it still is interesting to see what others have or don't have in their bedrooms.
couldn't stand the severe fish eye lense. No real scope of space. But a nice snippet into the lives of some strangers.
Would have enjoyed it more if it hadn't been sterotypicalized. It's blatantly staged. Very sad it would have been such an interesting series.
I don't see anything wrong with Colombia and Brazil as American too.. Remember separate by country not by continent.
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