Barbara Peacock

Portland-based photographer Barbara Peacock (@Barbara.peacock_photo) spent seven years traveling across the United States, connecting with Americans from all ends of life. The product of this, American Bedroom, is a multi-award winning cultural and anthropological study of Americans, presented as a collection of unguarded portraits taken in their bedrooms. Each portrait is accompanied by introspective statements from each subject.

There is a comforting knowledge that for many, despite our differences, 'the big things', the deepest thoughts and feelings that consume a conversation when someone is there to listen, are often shared. American Bedroom beautifully illustrates this shared humanity, revealing how our emotions and experiences, despite their diversity, are bound by common threads.

Peacock captures the variations of the human experience, showcasing a series of different lifestyles, accentuated by the character of the space they inhabit. Each image is able to reveal the emotions that transcend these physical spaces, accompanied by the words of the subjects themselves that provide further context and insight into their personal experiences. These narratives of pain, joy and self discovery affirm the deep connections that bind us together, even through the isolation of our own individual circumstances.

Using a 24mm lens to maintain consistency in her series, Peacock always shot at an aperture capable of capturing the many details of the space- from flags, toys and the appliances that decorate the space, to the clothing, poses and facial expressions that complement them. Through this, Peacock's images highlight the way the bedroom can often exist as an extension of oneself. For some of us it is the first taste of privacy we ever get, it becomes our debut project of self-expression, an exhibition of our interests, a place to house our important objects, and ultimately a time capsule of our lives. She takes something often perceived as ordinary and unassuming, and uses it as a platform to comment on the idiosyncrasies of American life. The level of appreciation for the bedroom as a creative and comforting space differs across the board, for some it is simply a place to rest, for others it becomes more.

For Peacock, this series allowed her to illustrate her love of painting. As a child, she would watch her mother paint by window light, and as a result became drawn to painting and interior light. This is particularly prevalent in American Bedroom, a series bursting with emotionally intimate scenes, each one thoughtfully lit to emphasise this. The ambient lighting is able to visually extend her subjects' emotions, echoing their thoughts, it not only supports the narrative, but also enhances it, working alongside the stories of her subjects to convey their emotions.

In an age of increasing division, particularly concerning the climate of American politics, American Bedroom reminds us of the quiet power of collective experience, offering an insight on the shared emotional terrain that connects us all. By opening a window into these personal worlds, Barbara Peacock invites us to reflect on our own lives and to remember that despite our differences, there are many experiences and emotions that we all share.