Inheriting the Unseen

Inheriting the Unseen is a living archive and creative exploration of the emotional and generational impact of growing up without family photographs or visual histories. This project continues the work of The Ethereal Homeland, expanding from a personal installation into a collective effort to explore the hidden spaces left by loss, displacement, and cultural erasure—particularly within the Lao and broader Southeast Asian diasporas.

At its core, this project asks: What do we become when we remember on purpose? And how does this act of intentional remembrance help us reclaim what has been left undocumented, unseen, and forgotten?

I was raised with a profound absence of visual family history. My mother cannot remember her childhood face. There are no photographs to confirm or challenge the shape of her earliest memories. This loss is not just personal—it echoes across displaced and diasporic communities where survival, war, and poverty left little space for documentation.

In contrast, I now live in a world obsessed with self-documentation. My own compulsive need to archive everything through photos and self-portraits is not simply a reflection of modern life—it’s a direct response to this history of absence. Beneath that impulse is a quiet anxiety about impermanence, death, and the fear of being forgotten.

This project is my way of working through those anxieties—by turning documentation into an intentional and healing act. It’s about preserving something real and tangible for the next generation, and offering a space where others can explore their own experiences of memory, loss, and belonging.

Inheriting the Unseen collects and shares:

• Family photos and personal portraits from Lao and Southeast Asian American families, particularly those navigating first- and second-generation immigrant experiences.
• Written and recorded personal reflections on memory, family, loss, and cultural identity.
• Community workshops centered on intuitive art, storytelling, and healing practices inspired by Buddhist teachings and cultural traditions.
• Public exhibitions and a digital archive designed to share these stories widely and accessibly.

This is a community-centered project grounded in care, consent, and collaboration.

This project is guided by a commitment to care, respect, and full consent. All participants retain ownership of their stories and images. Contributions can remain anonymous if preferred, and participants will always have control over how their materials are shared.

I am mindful of the emotional weight these memories may carry and avoid asking anyone to revisit experiences that feel harmful or exploitative. The goal is to create a space for healing, not retraumatization. Stories are shared only with the full understanding and comfort of those who offer them, and cultural sensitivity is at the core of every interaction.

This project centers the voices and experiences of the Southeast Asian diaspora, with a special focus on Lao individuals and families whose stories have often been left undocumented. If you are part of these communities and have a family photo, story, or reflection on memory, loss, belonging, or cultural identity, your contribution is deeply encouraged and valued.

While this project centers Southeast Asian perspectives, others who have experienced displacement, diaspora, or generational memory gaps are also welcome to share their stories.

Submit Your Story or Photo Here

This project is in an active phase of collecting stories and visual materials. In the coming year, I will be:

• Facilitating low-barrier community workshops exploring memory and creative healing.
• Developing a digital archive to house collected materials and stories.
• Planning a public exhibition that offers a space for shared remembrance and celebration of cultural resilience.

If you are interested in participating, hosting a workshop, or supporting this work, please reach out directly.