The Bathroom Spy

Bathrooms are fascinating places. They're the one room that every place needs but hardly anyone will talk about. They are intensely private places - by their very nature you are utterly exposed when using one.

Some people think you'll find out all you need to know about a person or a venue, simply by visiting the toilet. I'm not sure I agree but it goes to show the importance of this little room.

I love checking out the toilets in a new restaurant or shopping centre. I find the little cultural differences so intriguing.

In Vietnam, there's usually a bucket to throw your paper because the pipes often can't cope with it. In Malaysia you have a mix of sit-down and squat toilets and there's always a tap with a length of hose within reach of the user. In Britain, the ladies' toilets frequently have a pointless ante-room which I can only assume is to protect the modesty of the women inside.

This blog is inspired by an interview with Andrew Buurman, photographer of fertility clinic wank rooms. He said:

'It's the essence of photography to document things that people can't usually see. For blokes, it would be the inside of a women's loo.

He's right. I have no idea what most men's toilets look like. I'm going to show you every bathroom I visit from now on. Public, private, outdoor, spotless, filthy, you name it.

Maybe you'll even see yours.