Emma-Jane Johnston

Hey there... my name is Emma-Jane Johnston and I'm trying to raise some funds to exhibit a documentary photography series called Sharehouse.

In 2011 I began to document share-houses around Melbourne's inner North. I was particularly interested in how what used to be a rite-of-passage for young Melbournians when they first left home and before they married or bought their own home, was fast becoming the norm for many people of all ages with our ever-increasing cost of living. No longer were share-houses the domain of the single student, but a way of life for people across generations and demographics.

Living within a shared home includes shared space, shared furniture and possessions and a mishmash of personalities. The individual space of a bedroom becomes a haven. People that live in share-houses spend more time in their bedrooms to read, create, work, listen to music, watch movies and be alone. The bedroom becomes a place of solace where individual expression can thrive. 

Sharehouse documents individuals from seven different shared homes. Photographed in 2011-12, each portrait offers a glimpse into the universe we create within a bedroom when we share our living space with others. At the time of shooting, I asked each individual: If your portrait were to hang in a gallery with a set of headphones beneath, what song would be playing? The song is a reflection of how the subjects see themselves and of the world they create in their bedroom when alone.

An exhibition of the series will be shown in August 2016 at The Old Bar gallery space in Fitzroy.  

I'm hoping to recover some of the costs of showing the work. I'd like to be able to re-use/recycle many elements that have gone into the show.

Framing:

There are 32 x portraits all mounted presented in 16" x 16" frames. 

MP3 players and memory Cards:

The exhibition is interactive, with music that matches each portrait. 

Any additional funds raised will go toward the printing of an exhibition catalogue.

Due to the very personal nature of the work, I don't anticipate selling a huge amount of the portraits at the exhibition. I'm hoping instead to raise funds by re-selling the frames and pre-selling some exhibition catalogues as well as other photography shoot incentives.