Welcome to Permanent Vacation, a portrait of my parents’ lives as Asian American retirees and seniors living in Florida. Though my mom and dad immigrated from Thailand to the United States over 40 years ago, I’m continually fascinated by the way that they have adapted to the Sunshine State in their own unique way. From their bright, colorful activewear to where they shop and what they eat, it’s clear that their sunny, suburban environment has shaped their cultural identities.
This year my dad will turn 83 and my mom will be 76, but their active lifestyles are proof that getting older doesn’t mean slowing down. During the week, my dad cycles in the mornings, and they both swim or walk laps around the mall to get their steps in. They also love travel adventures and enjoy splitting their time between Asia and North America.
Photographing my parents has been a special way for us to connect; the most exciting part is that they share the same passion and enthusiasm for image-making as I do. They’re fascinated with today’s technology and the world around them, and are constantly recording their lives with their smartphones and cameras. They understand my obsession with photography!
From the seashores to the suburbs and beyond, this ongoing family project offers a glimpse into my parents’ peaceful yet highly active lives as seniors while broadening the ideas of aging and our sense of place and belonging in the world.
Artist Bios
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Lanna Apisukh
Lanna Apisukh is a portrait and documentary photographer based in New York City. With a background in skateboarding and an extensive athletic career as a former elite gymnast, she is drawn to photographing dynamic individuals, communities and subcultures. Her work explores people and their relationship to place, culture and identity through bold and colorful storytelling.
Lanna is a Bachelor of Arts graduate of the University of Washington and has expanded on her photography education at the Fashion Institute of Technology. Her subjects span from TV personalities, skateboarders and celebrity chefs to artists, everyday New Yorkers and their surroundings.
As a Thai-American and the daughter of immigrant parents and former restaurant owners and cooks, Lanna had also developed a deep appreciation for food at a young age and its connection to family and culture which can be seen in her profiles with restaurants.
Lanna is a member of Diversify Photo and became a FUJIFILM ambassador in 2020. She is a frequent contributor at The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, New York Magazine and The New Yorker. In addition to her photography work, she has provided mentorships and creative education to her Brooklyn community through Contact Photo, Seeing Collective and The Bridge program.
Organizations
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Photoville
Founded in 2011 in Brooklyn, NY, Photoville was built on the principles of addressing cultural equity and inclusion, which we are always striving for, by ensuring that the artists we exhibit are diverse in gender, class, and race.
In pursuit of its mission, Photoville produces an annual, city-wide open air photography festival in New York City, a wide range of free educational community initiatives, and a nationwide program of public art exhibitions.
By activating public spaces, amplifying visual storytellers, and creating unique and highly innovative exhibition and programming environments, we join the cause of nurturing a new lens of representation.
Through creative partnerships with festivals, city agencies, and other nonprofit organizations, Photoville offers visual storytellers, educators, and students financial support, mentorship, and promotional & production resources, on a range of exhibition opportunities.
For more information about Photoville visit, www.photoville.com
Permanent Vacation
Featuring: Lanna Apisukh
Locations
View Location Details Brooklyn Bridge Park – Emily Warren Roebling Plaza1 Water St
Brooklyn, NY 11201
This location is part of Brooklyn Bridge Park
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The views and opinions expressed in this exhibit are those of the exhibition artists and partners and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Photoville or any other participants and partners of the Photoville Festival.
