“Homes
Around the World” is a documentary project that is a continuation of
“The Expat Apartment Project” by myself and Anthony Dell’Ario. This
was our second two-person exhibition, this one held at The Laughing Tree Lab in central Seoul in
August of 2011. We captured a diverse range of foreign residents, hailing from several continents and distinct cultures, each in their own most intimate environment; their apartment.
We explored and documented how foreigners, often arriving with (at most) 2 checked pieces of luggage and 2 carry-on pieces, not only try to align the traditional Korean-style living space into a
home, but also what activities they engage in and find comfort with in the confines of their personal space. Be it cooking, seeing to simple household chores, checking
Facebook, or taking a bath… We hoped to
identify the diversity of the expat community in Seoul, while simultaneously
pointing out that we are doing many of same things we would back at “home.”
In anticipation of a continuation of this project that will lead me on a journey around the world, I have begun plans to expand this portrait to living spaces in the 25+ countries I will visit starting in September
of 2012 until October of 2013. The
primary goal of this project is to show how vastly different and/or remarkably
similar homes are in different countries across the globe, be it a three-story house in America,
or a 20th floor single room “officetel” in Korea. What differing purposes do these spaces provide? Is it a place for friends to gather and play
Wii, or is it a place to sleep, shower, and leave behind for 16 hours of the day? Which details set each home apart and reflect its
inhabitant?
Until September, I will be photographing foreigners and
native Koreans in their homes here in Korea while continuing to explore this theme and more fully fleshing out my portfolio. My goal is to publish a photo essay of a
different home each week (every Monday).
Please contact me if you’re in Korea (until September) and would like to
participate in this project! If you’re
elsewhere: Let me now where you are and hopefully I will be in your city sometime
after September!
*****
Originally from Northern Kentucky, Elizabeth Groeschen began her life abroad with a high-school home-stay in Dijon, France. She followed this up by continuing her French studies in Aix-en-Provence, France, and then Italian and art in Rome, Italy. After graduating from college in 2004, she moved to the Czech Republic to become certified in TEFL and taught English in Prague for a year. She continued teaching English upon moving to Seoul, Korea, and while doing so became acutely aware of her growing desire to photograph and document the world through her own unique viewfinder.After a successful year studying photography at The Art Institute of Chicago from 2008-2009, the recession propelled her back to Korea where she has been building her portfolio through her involvement with the International Artists Community, as well as regular contributions to SEOUL Magazine and Seoul Suburban. She is currently planning a trip around the world, which she hopes to embark on in September of 2012. Her online portfolio can be found at www.elizadele.com. She primarily shoots using a Nikon D300S, but loves to play with her Polaroid Rangefinder and Nikon FM2.
