She/ Her , 20, Rosemead CA
Q. What do you think your room says about you?
- I think it says that I am full of nostalgia. Like, I literally have a card from an ex hanging on my wall. It’s too cute to throw away.
Q. Do you think your future room will have the same qualities as your room now?
- My room has always been filled with trinkets and memorabilia, but it used to be a lot worse. My mom used to say my room reminded her of Party City. I’m the type of person who puts parking tickets in a memory box under my bed. But I feel like the older I get, the more I have to discard because it seems like the mature thing to do. I think my room will always feel like a reflection of Maya, but I guess it will become more refined as I age.
Q. In some photographs, I may have asked you what items or pieces of your room meant the most to you, why did you choose those items? What connection do you have with these objects?
- Everything on my dresser holds a special memory. A set of Anima postcards, a collection of film cameras that only work sometimes, a lighter from Paris, some trinkets from past boyfriends. The dresser itself is a remnant of a relationship. We fought over it and in the end I kept it. I still feel smug about it sometimes.
Q. Did you clean your room before it was photographed? I gave no instruction to clean or prepare your room in any way. If you did choose to clean it why? And if you didn't choose to clean it, how come?
- I chose to clean my room because if anyone is going to see these photos and draw conclusions about me, the last thing I’d want them to think is that I’m dirty.
Q. Are you home often? (if so why?) Do you spend the most time in your room or elsewhere?(if so why?)
- I’ve always been a homebody. This has been my home since I was born, and before then it was my dad’s home as a teenager. I’m really lucky in that sense. To have a for sure place to call home. I’ve always felt incredibly homesick, even just being gone for a day. I tried living in an apartment in LA last year, but I felt sad the whole time. I hate sleeping in other people’s beds. Plus, my cat is here which gives me an excuse to come home whenever I want. My bed is my favorite place to be <3
Q. Would you say you're proud of your room? Do you feel like it suits you well? (alternate question: Do you feel like it is a good representation of who you are/how you project yourself?)
- I’m proud of my sticker and print collection. I’m proud of my books and I’m proud of my pillows. I’m not proud of the wall color. I hate that color.
Q. How do you feel about where you are in life right now? Are you content with how everything is going and how you are portrayed?
- Right now I’m in this liminal space between kid and adult, and I feel completely unsettled. It always feels like something is missing, but I haven’t been able to pinpoint what the “something” is. I never really feel content. I mean, sometimes a moment will feel so intense and perfect and I’m content then. I guess that’s why I’m always feeling so nostalgic. I feel like I’ve always lacked a clear sense of identity or a social persona. I really have no idea how I’m portrayed or perceived, but I don’t like to think about that too much.
Q. Do you consider yourself a social person, or do you fall somewhere in between social and antisocial? (explain)
- I’m happiest when I’m alone or with one other person. I’m definitely not anti social, but I am an introvert. I feel like I just get overstimulated really easily. The other day, my roommate told me that she knows I’m happy when we’re just quiet with each other. I thought that was super silly.
Q. Why did you want to be a part of this series?
- I wanna be able to say I was shot by Ray Napoles.
Q. How do you think you'll react to these photos later on in life?
- My first reaction will probably have something to do with my physical appearance. My second reaction might be that I’m essentially the same.
Q. Did you have any following statements about your room? Anything you want people to take away from these photos?
- If you’ve ever given me anything, there’s a really good chance that it’s sitting in my room or in a memory box in my closet right now.