The Lams of Ludlow Street is an in-depth look at a family living in New York City’s Chinatown neighborhood. Born to a Chinese mother and an American father, Thomas Holton had close relatives living in Chinatown, but always felt disconnected and perceived as a visitor there. In an attempt to better understand his own Chinese heritage, Holton began photographing the streets and the daily rituals of the neighborhood. However, what began as a more traditional documentary project in the street photography genre developed into a much more intimate explora- tion of a single family’s life spanning a decade.
When Holton began to photograph the Lams, he « started to un- derstand the Chinatown family I never had.» The early work explores their daily lives and surroundings. The project evolved from an emphasis on the family’s physical surroundings to a mo- re nuanced look into their family dynamics and interior lives. In the later works, the unified family Holton had photographed be- fore was broken up physically and emotionally, and the new photographs reflect the changing situation.
« My need to see the Lams regularly moved beyond the desire to make new photographs and became akin to visiting family mem- bers that I cherish. I return out of love and the knowledge that time is fleeting. I just happen to always bring a camera. » – Thomas Holton
What distinguishes The Lams of Ludlow Street is its focus on the Asian-American immigrant experience in New York City as well as the exploration of a family’s turbulent history, which every- one can relate to regardless of race or religion.
BOOK
Thomas Holton
The Lams of Ludlow Street
Texts by Bonnie Yochelson, Charles Traub Designed by Kehrer Design
Kehrer Verlag
Half-cloth hardcover
28x22cm, 96 pages
56 color ills.
English
ISBN 978-3-86828-621-2
Euro 39,90 / US$ 50.00 / GBP 30.00
http://www.thomasholton.com
http://www.kehrerverlag.com
