Mathew Clayton

Mathew Clayton

Photography

Behind Closed Doors is an exploration of the experiences many women are subjected to at varying points in their lives. The often, unseen challenges women face go unacknowledged, their voices silenced, their reality remains out of sight. But that does not mean those struggles are not authentic and real. In my life I have seen many women mistreated and misrepresented, from media portrayals to public harassment to violence in the home. All of these instances gave me an uneasy feeling, not only because they distorted the image of women I knew but also because they were often overlooked or worse, brushed under the rug with contempt. Seeing my co-workers, my sisters, my mother, my grandmother and even women I have never even met struggle was challenging for me; although I wanted to take action, I never knew what to do. Shielding the women I love was not sufficient, they would still continue to be mistreated and my limited involvement did not make enough of a difference for them or for any other woman. Behind Closed Doors though could make a larger mark, it is an opportunity for you as the viewer to place yourself in each of these women’s shoes to recognize the trauma, the pain, and the sorrow that they are suffering.
Each image was carefully composed, each scene was organized and adjusted in lighting in order to give a cinematic feel; guiding the viewer to analyze the situation and to form a readable narrative that is both intimate and accessible. Constructing these images was demanding and at times problematic; to portray the inequality and mistreatment of women took careful consideration and collaboration. Women’s voices (not just my own) were critical in not only understanding but choosing what topics I addressed. Ranging from domestic violence to division of labor to body acceptance, each image depicts an experience (often invisible) and sheds light on the injustice so often unseen. Even if these situations happen Behind Closed Doors they still exist and they need to be addressed, not only by women but by all of us.

2016

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