Barbara Iweins, a talented photographer from Belgium, reflects on her decision to embark on a unique project six years ago. After going through a divorce and relocating multiple times, she grew tired of packing and unpacking her belongings. This led her to ponder what her life would be like surrounded by all of her possessions. Thus, she decided to capture every object she owned through photography.
It took Iweins four years and a staggering total of 12,795 photos to complete her task. Now, her remarkable collection is being showcased at the renowned Cortona on the Move photography festival in Tuscany. What started as a practical solution to her moving woes has transformed into a visual inventory of the mundane, personal, irreplaceable, and intimate aspects of her life.
No item was deemed too ordinary to be included in her project. The assortment ranges from safety pins and clingfilm to screws, hooks, and even toilet rolls. She documented her everyday objects, paying no attention to their brand names, which can be considered just as commonplace as the items themselves, such as Vanish, Pledge, Cif, Bic, Sudocrem, Dove, Playmobil, and Lego.
Alongside the banalities, she revealed intimate possessions with sentimental value, such as a Goldorak toy from her childhood and hidden items from her bedside table like lubricant, condoms, and antidepressants. The cumulative effect of viewing Iweins’ product shots can be overwhelming, and it serves as a poignant commentary on unchecked consumerism.
While Iweins acknowledges that she and her three children are rather messy, and that she has a penchant for collecting vintage clothing, she considers her buying habits to be typical of any parent raising three kids. Her desire to showcase the truth behind the idealized lives often portrayed on social media motivated her to reveal the imperfections and less glamorous aspects of her own life.
In her pursuit of full disclosure, Iweins faced challenges at times. She had to resist the impulse of excluding certain items, like a vibrator, from being photographed. Additionally, she reluctantly included what she considers her least desirable possession: a mold of her teeth. It is an extremely personal and unattractive object, but she was determined to maintain honesty throughout her project.
Clothing, in particular, posed its own difficulties. Iweins realized that many of her purchases remained hidden and forgotten in her closet. She suggests that transparent wardrobes could be a solution to address this issue. As she continued to document her objects, she diligently organized and classified them by color, material, and frequency of use.
Through this process, Iweins gathered idiosyncratic and sometimes unimpressive data. For example, she discovered that 21% of her bathroom objects are metallic, while 43% are made of plastic. Interestingly, only 1% of her clothing is purple, a color she openly admits to disliking.
Most importantly, Iweins realized that only 1% of her possessions held true significance, while the remaining 99% could be discarded without a second thought. The objects she truly cared for were those that were irreplaceable. Consequently, she was able to part with numerous bags of belongings once her project was completed. Her shopping habits have also experienced a significant change. She confesses that, for the first time in four years, she recently purchased new clothes.
Among her prized possessions is a dahlia preserved in a jar of formalin. Its delicate yet resilient nature captivated Iweins when she saw it in a shop in Amsterdam. Her cousin later bought it for her. She values the permanence of this object, as it serves as a reminder of stability during tumultuous times. Having gone through a divorce and lost a loved one to cancer, she finds solace in relying on these precious objects.
Iweins considers her project a form of therapy, bringing structure to the chaos in her life and thoughts. She no longer fears that something terrible will happen since she now has a tangible reminder of her journey through her book, “Katalog.” It has provided her with a sense of consolation and security.
Initially, she believed her project would shed light on overconsumption. However, throughout the process, Iweins realized that it was, in fact, a deeply personal exploration of herself. The Cortona on the Move international photography festival will continue until October 1st, allowing visitors to witness the fruits of Iweins’ labor. Her book, “Katalog,” has been published by Delpire, further expanding the reach of her extraordinary project.
Denial of responsibility! VigourTimes is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
