“Where do I want to go?
Somewhere slightly better than here”
Graeme in his living room ©Margaret Mitchell
An Ordinary Eden is a long term project that Margaret Mitchell made between 2019-2023. It looks at what it means when people are without a permanent home, how that affects them both emotionally and practically. In the work, she represented both people who were currently homeless and others for whom it was a past experience. Margaret’s work often concerns themes such as home, place and belonging: why the places people live are important to them, why belonging and having roots – or new roots – is fundamental to happiness.
This body of work shines light on transient and precarious experiences of ‘home’. The experiences of the people photographed are often hidden experiences and this work aims to bring some insight into both personal stories and universal issues.
All the people photographed had different stories on housing and home. All had different paths that brought them to their present, with histories that were multi-layered, complex, and nuanced. In each person resides a story of rebuilding and redemption, of leaving a past to forge a new future. Alongside this lies the acknowledgement of the impact their experiences have left on them as they seek to create roots and belong once more.
For this is not a search for utopia, an unreachable fantasy. It is the simple wish for a regular life. A pursuit for each individual’s Ordinary Eden.
An Ordinary Eden contemplates the universal need to belong, lay roots, and be connected to people and place.
“Michael said that he only wanted something a bit better and to simply lead a happy, fulfilling life. Not one of material value, but one where the inside, the connections, and the ability to be part of others’ lives was possible. A place it seemed to me that would be quite ordinary – but it would be his Ordinary Eden.
Michael ©Margaret Mitchell
“All I want is a happy, peaceful, normal life“
Margaret Mitchell began working on An Ordinary Eden in 2019 leading on from topics explored in previous projects. She wanted to further reflect on people’s sense of home and belonging. and to explore what happened when the ability to have a stable home and sense of place was interrupted by circumstances.
She involved individuals and organisations across Scotland including Shelter Scotland, and received support from Creative Scotland for the development of the work. The exhibition in Glasgow in 2023 was produced by Street Level Photoworks.
To see more of the project go ordinaryeden.com or Margaret Mitchell website.
