Art Review: Amanda Ross-Ho’s “Untitled Damages (ROOM DIVIDER)”
Los Angeles – Amanda Ross-Ho’s latest exhibition, “Untitled Damages (ROOM DIVIDER),” delves into the intricate relationship between our identities and the environments we inhabit. Set in Leroy’s, a converted artist-run space formerly known as Thanh Vi Restaurant, Ross-Ho’s solo show explores the lasting impact of relationships and the remnants they leave behind.
The exhibition centers around two sets of photographs damaged by floods – one by Ross-Ho’s mother, Laurel M. Ross, capturing their childhood home, and the other by her father, Ruyell Ho, a commercial photographer. Ross-Ho presents her mother’s black and white prints in acrylic shadow boxes, allowing the curled and warped images to stand as sculptural objects. In contrast, her father’s color transparencies are showcased in light boxes, serving as both display and light source for the exhibit. The water damage creates mesmerizing swirls of color along the edges of each image, adding a unique layer of beauty to the imperfections.
The artist’s personal touch is evident throughout the installation, with elements like doors wrapped in fabrics matching those in her mother’s photos and glass jugs filled with water – a nod to her parents’ use of Carlo Rossi wine bottles to mix photo chemicals. This raw presentation of her parents’ archival material showcases a vulnerability and tenderness not seen in Ross-Ho’s previous works, highlighting the deep connection between personal history and artistic expression.
The venue’s history as a Vietnamese restaurant adds another layer to the exhibition, with remnants of its past still visible in the space. Industrial shelving, pots on the stove, and numbered stickers on the walls evoke memories of the restaurant’s bustling days. Ross-Ho incorporates elements from the site’s history into her installation, creating a harmonious blend of past and present, artist and environment.
Even Ross-Ho’s own name, hyphenated between her parents’ surnames, becomes a part of the exhibit – symbolizing the interconnectedness of her dual heritage. This paradox of feeling both split and connected by disparate parts resonates with anyone navigating a hyphenated identity, underscoring the complexity of self-identity and belonging.
“Untitled Damages (ROOM DIVIDER)” is a poignant reflection on the enduring impact of relationships and surroundings on our sense of self. Ross-Ho skillfully navigates the space’s quirks to deepen the themes of her work, creating a moving exploration of the intertwined nature of identity and environment.
Amanda Ross-Ho’s exhibition will be on display at Leroy’s in Chinatown, Los Angeles, until March 1st. Don’t miss this thought-provoking reflection on the ties that bind us to our past and present.
