LOS ANGELES — In her exhibition Untitled Damages (ROOM DIVIDER), Amanda Ross-Ho revisits her childhood home, specifically her parents’ bedroom, described in the show’s press release. Initially comprised of two rooms, the space bore a ceiling scar from the demolished dividing wall, reflecting her parents’ awkward solutions for the leftover doors and their later attempt to create a division with upholstered doors. Displayed at Leroy’s, an artist-run venue that once was Thanh Vi Restaurant, the exhibition delves into the imprints left by people and places, and the enduring marks of severed connections.
Untitled Damages (ROOM DIVIDER) showcases flood-damaged photographs from her parents. Her mother, Laurel M. Ross, captured images of her childhood home in black and white, displayed in acrylic shadow boxes, unmounted, allowing the water-warped prints to sit sculpturally. Her father, Ruyell Ho, contributed 8-by-10-inch color transparencies from his commercial photography days, housed in light boxes that illuminate the space. The water damage adds beautiful, swirling color patterns to the edges of each image.
Throughout the exhibition, Ross-Ho’s influence is evident: fabric-wrapped doors reminiscent of her mother’s photos, sourced through reverse-image searches, photo background paper rolls, clamps, and glass jugs filled with water—referencing Carlo Rossi wine bottles her parents repurposed for mixing photo chemicals. This is the first time she presents their archival material directly, reducing her characteristic humor and enhancing the exhibition’s vulnerability and tenderness.
The venue’s former identity as a Vietnamese restaurant adds another layer to the exhibition. Original features remain, such as pantry shelving, grease-stained pots, and wall stickers denoting former dining table spots. Ross-Ho integrates elements from the restaurant’s past, like framed calligraphy and stacked tableware, creating moments where the presence of the restaurant, the artist, and her parents intersect.
Even her name, Ross-Ho, is part of the installation, symbolizing a divide and connection between two identities and races, echoing the exhibition’s exploration of interconnectedness. Her adept use of the space’s quirks enriches the thematic complexity of her work, offering a powerful contemplation on how identities are intertwined with our relationships and environments.
