20-07 198th St, Flushing

This video project starts with a documentation of a massage parlor located somewhere in Flushing, Queens, New York, where a group of Chinese immigrants work daily. I am interested in exploring the way in which these women inhabit this seemingly enclosed but shared space, which appears simultaneously public and private. These are difficult, ambiguous but fascinating spaces to document. I have recorded real events taking place there but also have staged video portraits with the women and their families.To my surprise, the activities taking place seem to occupy a space which are quite out of proportion to their original duration.I am equally struck by the evanescence of human experience there. Video can be watched at www.amyluostudio.com or https://vimeo.com/179802017