There is one quote from the animated series of the Tick, which ran through part of the mid-90s, that has always stuck with me. When asked in an interview during the opening sequence if he could blow up the earth, he replies “Egad, I hope not. That’s where I keep all my stuff.”

Photographing people with their possessions isn’t a new idea, but I always find it fascinating. Photographer Peter Menzel published a book in the mid-90s titled Material World, which depicted families around the globe with all their worldly goods arranged in front of their home, giving us an idea of how people live across cultures. We are, in many ways, what we choose to surround ourselves with; what we choose to move with us from place to place regardless of what a pain it is.

Swedish photographer Sannah Kvist decided to photograph her friends with their goods. They arranged their space and things, which allowed them to choose which items they made more prominent.

These photos make me feel like a pack rat, and I’ve even paired down over time. One theme in many of the photos would be apparent in photos of American 20 somethings, stuff from IKEA. Those giant blue bags especially seem to make an appearance (they would make a good laundry bag).

I also was amused by Sannah’s brief biography:

Right now I’m interested in youth and death and the fact that I think Thursdays are better than Saturdays.

- via Brand Flakes for Breakfast