March 13-April 20, 2020
“FRIDGES” is a portrait series of refrigerators, showcasing the livelihood of Hmong in America and Hmong Americans, who taught English in South Korea, in relation to food, culture, preservation, and history. As a second-generation Hmong American, my relationship with the kitchen and food is very different from my mother. For me, it’s a storage space for food that requires preservations and left-overs. Whereas for my mother, fridge is about survival and abundance.
When I traveled to South Korea and photographed portraits of refrigerators that belong to Hmong Americans, many of our conversations and stories shared revolved around food and culture, but more specifically about what flavors and ingredients were absent. From coriander to thai chilli peppers or tamarind, their stories around substituting ingredients to recreate their comfort food were only temporary until they returned home in America or until they travel to Itaewon for the global market to buy their spices and herbs.