One by One

This portfolio I submitted is a continuation of my previous project, Lasting Memories, and further investigates the delicate and fleeting nature of memory. My work explores the fragility of memory and how easily it can vanish in an instant. Through photography, I document processes of deterioration that are suspended and preserved in time. The images capture moments of gradual decay, emphasizing the tension between preservation and loss.

In this series, photographic images are transferred onto rose petals. The rose functions as a metaphor for the individual, while each petal represents a distinct memory that contributes to the formation of personal identity. By placing images onto such delicate surfaces, the work highlights the vulnerability of memory and the inevitability of its transformation over time. These photographs present close up views of photo transfers derived from my personal biographical documentation of everyday life, including moments, places, and experiences that shape my understanding of self and family.

The portfolio is also informed by ongoing conversations surrounding immigration in the United States. My family immigrated to the United States as refugees from Vietnam, and this history deeply informs my thinking about memory and belonging. The project reflects on how the fragile memories we build throughout our lives can be unexpectedly disrupted, stripped away, or lost.