The museum guide to your childhood room brings back the memories of that sacred place you once had. Memories of the little events and silly moments in the life you spent there might have been stowed away behind memories of major life events. But just take a closer look, let you mind wander off and wait what comes up. The smaller memories could actually be the precious ones.
An exposition by Maaike Noijons
What did you do with your room?
This museum guide is part of my end project for my Masters Degree in Visual Anthropology. In my research on how expat children create a home the role of their bedroom came up often. It’s the ability to design their own space and the autonomy the child has in this place that makes this room more attractive with every year the child grows older. This knowledge inspired me to design this guide, because whether you live an expat childhood or a childhood in one place, the bedroom plays an important role in Western Europe.
Do you really need to keep this?
There are many ways to sort your stuff. Even young children have their ways to separate the important from the less important. Some children and teenagers sort within categories, like comfort, memorable and relaxing. Others put all their stuff on the floor in an order from important to not important. According to the children, more important than strategy is the ability to sort things yourself. For the outsider it sometimes is very understandable what can stay. But sometimes?
Bunbun needs a wash
A smell can do so many things: it can make you happy; it can warn you; it can stimulate your appetite; or it can bring you home. We find it hard to describe a specific scent. Apart from those overly interested in wine or perfume, most of us only manage to characterise a smell as nice or as disgusting. A scent can evoke emotions and memories, even of moments or situations that happened a long time ago. Who knows what happens when we find our old cuddly animal, and even better (or worse) when we smell it again…
It’s a mess!
Books on decluttering. Videos with tips on how to declutter. Best music to declutter. Decluttering blogs. Declutter experts. Do we need these?
Start sorting then.
What objects do you need around you to make you feel at home? What should definitely go with you when you move to make sure you feel good in your new place? Precious objects don’t necessarily have to be expensive or rare. Even very common things like a table or a desk or even a screen can take up a special role in a life. These then act as something like a utensil. They enable life to carry on as normal.
I can't come in?
Harry found a sofa in the basement. He said it was just what he needed for his room. Being thirteen he wants his room to be more than just a place to sleep. His mum was ok with him taking the sofa, but has hardly seen him since.
Teenagers’ bedrooms are shrouded in secrecy. Even when no one is inside. What’s on the desk? Are you allowed to peek in drawers? Are you even allowed inside?
Grow up!
We are at the end of this museum tour. There is one audio file left. A story of what it is actually like to be sixteen when one strips off of the romantic sweet sixteen aura. After that, it is up to you. What posters did you have on your wall? What toy do you wish had never been thrown away? Is there a specific smell that symbolizes your childhood? I would love to read what memories came up while browsing through the museum guide.
