Two Oceans

Two Oceans is a photographic series made in Providence, Rhode Island, and its surrounding cities, where a large Cambodian community has taken root. The work centers on intimate portraits of families and friends within my circle of Cambodian Americans and their parents, many connected through my mother, a locally known nurse practitioner who fled Cambodia as a refugee. In the smallest state, lives overlap closely, each person photographed is linked to the next, and the sequence of images traces these quiet connections. Made with an 8 × 10 large format camera and black-and-white film, the series reclaims the visual language of monochrome photography associated with the Khmer Rouge. Holding this history within its details, Two Oceans offers an intimate meditation on legacy, perseverance, and the experience of belonging to two places at once.

A younger woman and an elderly woman sitting close together, the elderly woman pointing to her identification badge with photos of children.
A man with tattoos and a cap sitting at a reception desk in a studio, with the sign 'EMPIRE STUDIO' and an American flag in the background.
An elderly man and young girl sitting on a large rock at the beach, with the man holding a fishing rod and both smiling.
A man with a beard and curly hair, wearing a white shirt, holding a photo of a woman sitting by a pond, outdoor setting with a bench and house in the background.
A young man with his hands in his pockets standing under an overpass in an urban area, wearing a striped hoodie and pants, with streetlights and road signs visible in the background, in black and white.
An elderly woman holding a framed black-and-white portrait of a young man and an ID card.
Martial arts instructor helping student with hand wraps in training gym
An elderly man with gray hair and a beard, sitting on a bed in a cluttered room, holding a traditional musical instrument. The room has large windows with blinds, various plants, and personal items around.
A young man in U.S. Army camouflage uniform standing next to an elderly woman in a grocery store aisle, with her arm around him.
Two young men wearing wetsuits on a beach, one sitting with his elbow on his knee and the other relaxed on a surfboard, both looking at the camera.
A memorial corner with framed photographs, a small table with water bottles and candles, a folding chair with "2005" written on it, and decorative lights on the wall.
A wall decorated with numerous black-and-white family photographs, a small American flag, and some framed pictures, creating a collage of memories.
Two women standing on a rocky beach, one resting her hand on the other's shoulder. Both are dressed in light-colored, summery clothing and looking at the camera.
A black and white photo of five people on a porch in front of a house. Two women are seated in the front, one elderly and one middle-aged, and three men and women stand behind them. The house behind them has the number 103 and 105 on the wall next to
Black and white photo of a woman in military camouflage uniform and cap, standing outdoors with blurred trees in the background, looking at the camera.
A man wearing a flat-bill cap and a white Adidas sweatshirt, leaning against a railing outdoors, with a slightly serious expression.
Two young people, a woman and a man, standing on a tennis court outdoors. The woman has curly hair, glasses, and is wearing a light jacket over a white top and loose pants. The man has short hair, glasses, a white T-shirt, black shorts, and high-top
A family of five dressed in traditional clothing standing outdoors in a park with trees in the background.
A woman with short hair and tattoos on her left arm stands barefoot on a concrete surface, wearing a white top and loose pants, outdoors with plants and trees in the background. She appears to be posing or performing a dance.
Two men practicing martial arts in a gym with Rogues Island Combat logo, an American flag, and a flag with a temple design in the background.
A young man sitting on a chair outside a laundromat with large windows and festive wreath decorations on the door.
A woman sitting outdoors on a wooden stool with her hands in her lap, wearing a patterned shirt, with a flower in her hair. The photo is in black and white with a blurred natural background.