Hundreds of beds in Russia, the United States and Egypt through the lens of Magnum photographer Bieke Depoorter

Between 2008 and 2016, Magnum photographer Bieke Depoorter traveled through Russia, the United States, and Egypt, asking random people if she could spend the night in their homes. Day after day, different people prepared a bed for her – on air mattresses, couches, carpets, on the ground, in living rooms, or kitchens. A decade later, she happened upon the hundreds of images she had taken of these beds, which were never intended for publication, and wondered if she had been collecting evidence. This book is the compelling result.

Honderden slaapplekken in Rusland, de Verenigde Staten en Egypte door Magnum-fotograaf Bieke Depoorter

Tussen 2008 en 2016 reisde Magnum-fotograaf Bieke Depoorter door Rusland, de Verenigde Staten en Egypte, waar ze willekeurige mensen vroeg of ze bij hen thuis mocht overnachten. 

Dag na dag maakten verschillende mensen een bed voor haar klaar – op luchtmatrassen, sofa’s, tapijten, op de grond, in woonkamers of keukens. Tien jaar later vond ze honderden foto’s die ze van die bedden had gemaakt terug. Deze foto’s waren oorspronkelijk nooit bedoeld voor publicatie, en ze vroeg zich af of ze onbewust bewijsmateriaal had verzameld. Dit boek is het meeslepende resultaat.

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Hundreds of beds in Russia, the United States and Egypt through the lens of Magnum photographer Bieke Depoorter

Between 2008 and 2016, Magnum photographer Bieke Depoorter travelled through Russia, the United States, and Egypt, asking random people if she could spend the night in their homes.

Day after day, different people prepared a bed for her – on air mattresses, couches, carpets, on the ground, in living rooms, or kitchens. A decade later, she happened upon the hundreds of images she had taken of these beds, which were never intended for publication, and wondered if she had been collecting evidence. This book is the compelling result.

Publication accompanying Bieke Depoorter’s exhibition Blinked Myself Awake at Westfront Nieuwpoort from 19 June 2026 to 3 January 2027.