Same Not Same is the project which explores the state of paranoia I experienced during my early time living in Milan. Started from something ordinary which is the room opposite mine was often left its door open. While this might feel normal or insignificant to others, but for me it’s something very uncomfortable especially when I had to turn my back toward it. I developed a persistent fear that the person inside could harm me at any moment.

This turned into a cycle of observation. I began observing the room through my peephole, gathering the evident of the person inside behavior. My paranoia escalated to the point where I believed the person might enter my room while I was away. To cope with this fear, I started documenting my space by photographing all of my belongings before left and after I came back to my room, then comparing the images upon my return to detect any changes.

In reality, nothing ever happened. The threat existed entirely in my mind. Yet, ironically, my fear of being watched and harmed transformed me into the very thing I was afraid of—a silent observer, a “creep” myself.

Objects

Peeping Hole

Surrounding