A Girl and her Room
Come peek a view into the private realm of a princess’s castle, a girl’s own bedroom. A place they fully control: decorate, trash and be themselves in - a sanctuary from an often intimidating outside world.
A Girl and her Room is an ongoing project by photographer Rania Matar. Shot in so far three countries (The US, Lebanon and Palestine), the original idea for the project came as the photographer watched her teenage daughter’s passage into adulthood, with all the complications it entails. She first started photographing the daughter and her friends in group situation, but soon realized they were all too aware of each other’s presence. From there, says Matar, emerged the idea of photographing each girl alone.
“I originally let the girls choose the place of their choice and was slowly welcomed into their bedrooms, an area that is theirs, that they can fully control, decorate, trash and be themselves in – within an outside world that is often intimidating. I spent time with each girl, so she was comfortable with me and was able to let down her guards, free of any preconception of what she would like to portray consciously. I was fascinated to discover a person on the cusp on becoming an adult, but desperately holding on to the child she just barely left behind. A person on the edge between two worlds, trying to come to terms with this transitional time in her life and adjust to the person she is becoming. Posters of rock stars, political leaders or top models were often displayed above a bed still covered with stuffed animals; mirrors were always an important part of the room, a reflection of the girls’ image to the outside world.”
Check out the whole set here.
