Apt 3R

In 2013, a summer stay in my aunty’s apartment, became permanent. Living nine years with six people in tight quarters taught me resilience, patience, and unity.

Located in the heart of East New York is my aunty’s two-bedroom apartment, 3R. The summer of 2013 marked a turning point for my brother and I. During a vacation in New York City, our mother unexpectedly offered us the chance to stay and continue school here. Without hesitation, we said yes, and what was once a place of visits became our permanent home.

Documenting my aunty’s apartment began as a way to preserve its memories—a space filled with emotion, struggle, and unity. Living in Apt 3R for nine years shaped me not only as an artist but as a person. It taught me patience, humility, and resilience. Despite the challenges of six people sharing a two-bedroom apartment, we continued to embrace one another and show up in the world as best as we could. Behind the scenes, we faced the realities of taking showers from a bucket, sleeping on air mattresses, and navigating the many other adversities. 

After my mom, brother, and I moved out in 2022, I began photographing the apartment as a way to remember and reflect on what that space represented. Though our landlord and city agencies had long failed to make necessary repairs, I was drawn back to document the traces of our lives there and to give voice to others with similar experiences while acknowledging the strength it took to endure them. This project is both an act of remembrance and a gesture of appreciation. It is a visual testament to the love, perseverance, and quiet resilience that defined our home. Through Apt 3R, I seek to shed light on the immigrant experience and the enduring hope of families striving for a better life.