(re)Location: The Lao/Korean Acculturation Project was born out of a long friendship between Dr. Joyce Yip Green and artist Helen H. Kim. Joyce was an infant when her family fled Laos just after the end of the Laotian Civil War in 1975. Helen was seven years old when her family immigrated from South Korea in 1982. The ongoing dialogue between these 1.5-generation women about the complexities of their Asian American identities and the legacy of their aging parents led to a mutual desire to claim their histories, honor the elders of their communities, and instill a sense of rootedness for the next generation of Asian Americans. They were also prompted by a desire to unpack the stories left untold by their parents’ generation throughout their childhood, wondering if bringing them to the light could provide insight into the Lao and Korean diasporic experiences. This exploration is a means to claim their histories and instill a sense of rootedness for themselves and the next generation of Asian Americans. No one has asked them these questions
Between 2021 and 2022, Joyce and Helen gathered stories from 10 Lao and 10 Korean senior adults who immigrated to the United States in the 1970s and 80s, a significant era of Asian migration. The aim was to capture specific insights rather than a broad representation of the Lao and Korean communities. The stories revealed themes and patterns reflecting the interplay of identity, resilience, and cultural preservation in the context of migration and settlement. There were commonalities across all the diasporic experiences as well as distinct differences between the Lao and Korean participants.
The interviews—conducted in Los Angeles, Fresno, and Sonoma—involved conversations, imagery, and personal and cultural artifacts. Such artistic expressions transcend conventional verbal communication and allowed for a richer, more nuanced understanding of the participants’ lived experiences while honoring their cultural heritages and stories.
For Joyce and Helen, (re)Location has been a deeply personal reflection on the loss, grief, beauty, and gratitude associated with the aging process. Please join them in honoring the immigrant elders who paved the way for younger generations of Asian Americans. As you experience the exhibition, you are invited to reflect on your own family history and the legacy of your elders, whose journeys undoubtedly illustrate the universal pursuit of a better life and a place to call home.
