Some more excerpts from my personal Korean Adoptee Portrait Project series. The full gallery can be viewed in the link in bio.
1. Jen Swedell & Bong Ae Kim
Adoptee Jen Swedell with her birth mother Bong Ae Kim. After 47 years, they were able to reunite via a successful DNA search match.
Year adopted: 1977
Where did you grow up: Minnesota
Where do you currently live: California
Where in Korea were you born or adopted from: Chungcheongbuk-do
2. Megan Farmer
Year adopted: 1985
Where did you grow up: Minneapolis, MN
Where do you currently live: San Diego, CA
Where in Korea where you born or adopted from: Born in Daegue, adopted from Seoul
3. Sarah Graves
Year adopted: 1986
Where did you grow up: Louisville, KY
Where do you currently live: Louisville, KY
Where in Korea were you born or adopted from: Cheongju
4. Mike Greco
Year adopted: 1985
Where did you grow up: Northern Illinois
Where do you currently live: Chicago, IL
5. Lynn Lee Murphy
Year adopted: 1975
Where did you grow up: Shawnee Mission, KS & Naperville, IL
Where do you currently live: San Francisco, CA
Where in Korea were you born or adopted from: Daejeon
6. Joshua Taube
Year adopted: 2001
Where did you grow up: SE Michigan
Where do you currently live: Chicago, IL
Where in Korea were you born or adopted from: Seoul
7. Anna Holmes
Year adopted: 1986
Where did you grow up: Vacaville & Roseville, CA
Where do you currently live: Sacramento, CA
Where in Korea were you born or adopted from: Born in Jeongeup, adopted from Jeonju
8. Melissa Benz
Year adopted: 1977
Where did you grow up: Minnesota
Where do you currently live: Roseville, MN
Where is Korea were you born or adopted from: Seoul
9. Jonathan Bergstrom
Year adopted: 1975
Where did you grow up: New Jersey
Where do you currently live: Prosper, TX
Where in Korea were you born or adopted from: Masan
10. Courtney Clark
Year adopted: 1985
Where did you grow up: Illinois
Where do you currently live: St. Louis, MO
Where in Korea were you born or adopted from: Incheon
I want to share some excerpts from the start of a new personal project. Inspired by my own experience as a Korean adoptee and the profound connections forged with fellow adoptees along my journey of self discovery, I set out to create a series of portraits that celebrates the beautiful tapestry of the Korean adoptee community.
Capturing the essence of each individual, my portraits strive to encapsulate the diverse faces of Korean adoptees scattered across the globe. I aim to showcase the incredible variety of placements and experiences while also highlighting the shared histories many of us share.
I hope to share a glimpse into the complex mosaic of our shared struggles, triumphs and resilience as well as honor our individual identities.
1. Marni Kanne
Year adopted: 1981
Where did you grow up: Minnesota
Where do you currently live: Minnesota
Where in Korea were you born or adopted from: Seoul
2. Kyung-joo
Where did you grow up: Germany
Where do you currently live: Paris, France
Where in Korea were you born or adopted from: Gyeongju
3. Vanessa Emerson
Year adopted: 1986
Where did you grow up: Michigan
Where do you currently live: Charleston, SC
Where in Korea were you born or adopted from: Seoul
4. Jonessa Dobbs
Year adopted: 1986
Where did you grow up: Michigan
Where do you currently live: Saint Clair Shores, MI
Where in Korea were you born or adopted from: Seoul
5. Vanessa Emerson & Jonessa Dobbs
Adopted together as identical twins, the sisters later found out they were separated from a third triplet as infants who they are still looking for.
A recent portrait of New York based, Japanese artist, CHiKA with her light sculpture installation at New York Hall of Science in Queens, NY.
CHiKA works in light sculptures, audiovisual performances, and technology. Visit the Great Hall at the NYHS to see the interactive light sculpture installation.
I had a great time shooting a playroom makeover for @potterybarnkids at the home of @Jason.kelce and his wife @kykelce and their three daughters. Thank you to the team involved!
Creative/Art Direction - Sharon Stott
Gaffer - @mwasi_berkley
Videographer - @domsavio
Congratulations to Judge Rena Malik on her recent induction to the Brooklyn Civil Court.
Judge Malik is the first judge of Asian American Pacific Islander heritage to be elected to the Brooklyn Civil Court and also the first South Asian judge elected in the borough of Brooklyn.
I had a great time shooting for @potterybarnkids & @potterybarnteen to unveil the major makeover designed in collaboration with @sav.labrant and her family for their new home in Nashville.
Some of the kind people of Yeonpung village outside of Paju. On day 6 of the Mosaic tour earlier this summer our group was greeted by the town as honored guests for the afternoon.
As I near the end of my first trip back to Korea since being adopted 37 years ago, I still have a lot to process. But it’s been a heart filling experience. My first 10 days were spent with 26 other international adoptees from around the world and we had the opportunity to attend the Mosaic Tour hosted by Me & Korea. We were able to share and listen to each others’ stories and explore our origin stories and birth country together.
Just a few months ago, I learned that I may have the chance to meet some birth family. I was hesitant at first, but in the end I had a great reunion with 2 uncles, 2 aunts and an older cousin and his wife. All of whom remembered me and my sister and helped fill in many details of our story.
This last week I was joined by Sandra & Lila and I’m fortunate to be able to share this journey with them.
I was invited to perform a short speech at the final banquet of our tour. Here is an excerpt to help describe my experience:
“We all come from a wide range of countries and cultures - many of us from around the United States, but also from Europe and Scandinavia.
This is the first time I’ve heard a Swedish, danish, German, French, or for that matter southern or midwestern accent come out of the mouth of a Korean, and I love it. As different as our raised cultures have been, we all share a common beginning. It wasn’t until recently for me that I realized how important it was to explore my origins to better understand and love myself.
I came here knowing very little about Korea and even less how to speak Korean! I was also nervous with anticipation of meeting so many new faces at once - it reminded me of the first day of school jitters - unsure if you’ll make any friends. But those fears quickly disappeared when I met all of you who instantly felt like family.
(Continued in comments)
