Pao Houa Her's Monograph 'My grandfather turned into a tiger…' Published by Aperture

Aperture has released 'My grandfather turned into a tiger… and other illusions,' a monograph featuring 80 photographs by Hmong-American artist Pao Houa Her. The publication collects works from six series created between 2012 and 2022, including the 2016–17 title series. Her's images explore themes of displacement and adaptation through portraits and landscapes that blend formal and candid approaches. Photographs depict family members in both the US and Laos, positioned before studio backdrops or natural settings, with artificial and real vegetation often dominating compositions. The Mount Shasta series (2021–21) presents marijuana plants cultivated by Hmong immigrants in California, initially appearing as saplings for reforestation. Her captures subjects originally photographed for other purposes, repurposing them to examine illusions and realities within immigrant experiences. The book interleaves color and black-and-white images at varying scales, creating nuanced resonances across series. Priced at $60 or £50 in softcover, the monograph offers a comprehensive portrait of cultural hybridity and survival strategies.