បោកគក់, Laundry, is a universal symbol of time and its cyclical nature. We all do laundry. We all wait for our laundry. We all rely on laundry. We all hold onto it. But doing laundry is manifested in so many different ways, especially in parts of the world like Southeast Asia. Some people do their laundry outdoors. Some people hang their clothes outside their house, some inside. Some you find in the most random & obscure places. This universal, visual symbol has always intrigued me with its ever evolving unique presentations all over the world. In my journey discovering more about Siem Reap and its people, I used laundry as my guide and mark to strike conversations and meet locals who tell me about themselves and their stories. Looking deeper into the lives of the people in Siem Reap through photography & conversation, I learn more about their likes and dislikes, daily struggles they experience with work and home and money, and what it means to be Cambodian in this time. បោកគក់ or laundry become more than just wet clothing; it became a strong symbol of hope, resilience, and patience of the Khmer and beyond with their socio-economic realities.

This body of worked was showcased in Jakarta, Indonesia - Phnom Penh, Cambodia - Bacolod City, Philippines - Manila, Philippines through slideshow presentations & events by co-Angkor Workshop participants, and physically as well through a solo show in the Land to Sea Cafe in Brooklyn from May to June 2025.

“Laundry” is published in NPR’s Goats & Soda, the publication’s Global Health sector: https://www.npr.org/sections/goats-and-soda/2026/01/10/g-s1-105239/photos-laundry-philippines

Physically, the project is part of NYC based publication Far Near’s HEAT photo book. You may purchase the book here: https://far-near.media/shop/vol6/