Happiness project

From XPUB & Lens-Based wiki

Happiness Project


“Beauty is the Promise of Happiness” - Stendahl


The Architecture of Happiness - Alan de Botton




Based on how important environment is for out happiness, I would like to find the beauty of peoples homes to portray their happiness. What places are their favorites, or their happy place in their house? How does beauty differ through different eyes? Beauty is arguable.


In Grayson Perry´s documentary, “in the best possible taste” he discusses classes and how tastes vary between the classes. How middle class decorates their home more minimalist, clean and portray aspiration. Lower class decorate their house more with memory, for example snowglobes and statues of the Eiffel Tower. Hoarding vs. minimalist. How the cup cakes means that you are in control of domesticity.


I think Rotterdam is a good place to do it, as it is my new home. Also it is very international as is my background. It would be nice to go into homes from different nationalities, and see how places differ.



The Rules I want to go by:


I want to take video, with still frames, but find some kind of movement to be in it as well. Wether it is a dog walking through the frame, the wind outside the windows, the clock ticking, the kettle boiling and so on.


The shots need to be beautifully framed.


Try not to make it look like an interior magazine.


Find the quirkyness in the house.


Make each shot portray the person as much as you can.