︎
Sunny Leerasanthanah

PROJECTS:
    Naturalization (Now on view)
     Offerings
    Wuthichai (Exit Interview)
    Mom’s Magnets
    Homes Against Tides
    Towards Tenderness
    Carry Me Home
    Handwriting Superstition Workshop
     We Are Here Book Commission
    Chinatown Futures
  
PHOTO PORTRAITS
PHOTO JOURNAL
VIDEO & FILM
WRITING

ABOUT / CONTACT
 PRESS
CV

︎ News ︎

︎︎︎2024 | OPENING FEB 10 | Solo exhibition at Smack Mellon (NY)

︎︎︎2023 | NOW ON VIEW | “Naturalization” solo exhibition at John Michael Kohler Arts Center (WI) July 2023-Jan 2024

︎︎︎2023 | Lesbian Narratives of Cherry Grove: Presentation & Panel Discussion, April 23, 2023 at Candice Madey Gallery 6:30pm (Free) 

︎︎︎2023 | Residency at Image Text Workshop  ︎

︎︎︎2023 | Residency at Center for Book Arts 

︎︎︎2022 Nov | Guest panelist for “Let’s Talk About Photo Books” discussion at Soho Photo Gallery. Nov 12, 4:30-6pm (Free) ︎
︎︎︎2022 July | Residency at Fire Island Artist Residency 

︎︎︎2022 May-July | Works available at Queer | Art’s Digital Book & Print Fair ︎

︎︎︎2021 July | Awarded the Queens Council on the Arts’ 2021 New Work Grant for Wuthichai (Exit Interview)

VIDEO INSTALLATIONS & FILM

This is as far as I can take you
 2023
(Description coming soon)





Certain Aliens
 2023
(Description coming soon)
Currently exhibiting at John Michael Kohler Arts Center
July 29, 2023 - Feb 18, 2024
︎ Exhibition text

42 min, HD color video

Cast: Hugo Gallo, x senn-yuen rance, Cherrie Yu
Directing: Sunny Leerasanthanah
Video and Sound Editing: Sunny Leerasanthanah
Videography: Sorn Bunnag
Set Design: Sophie Porter-Hyatt Sound:
Cy Kim Lighting: Lindsay Vanderpool
Production Assistants: Josephine Heston and Lucas Reif
Movers: Joel Trejos and Thomas Truong
Commissioned by John Michael Kohler Arts Center



Naturalization
 2022-2023
(Description coming soon)
Currently exhibiting at John Michael Kohler Arts Center
July 29, 2023 - Feb 18, 2024
︎ Exhibition text

14 min HD color video

Video: Sunny Leerasanthanah
Sound: Cy Kim
Commissioned by John Michael Kohler Arts Center





Wuthichai (Exit Interview)
2021
48 min Two-channel HD video installation with mixed media including watch, journals, video camcorder and tape, medicine bag, pills, pill splitter, incentive spirometer, wallet, ID cards, glasses and case, shoes, shirts, pants, shorts, hangers. Dimensions variable.

Commissioned by SculptureCenter; exhibited at SculptureCenter’s 2021 In Practice show, You may go, but this will bring you back.
Awarded the 2021 Queens Council on the Arts’ New Work Grant.

INSTALLATION EXCERPT: vimeo.com/535311796
SCULPTURECENTER EXHIBITION CATALOG: Link to PDF

Description: Thai-speaking actors, who were casted via online community forums for Thai immigrants in New York City, role-play and improvise dialogue as Sunny’s deceased father. 




Strange Fear & Ecstasy

2016
Video installation, 5:22 min on loop
Footage credit: Cellphone video clips of drag performer Aaron Thornton (Vanilla Diamond) at Virginia Beach in 2015;
Archival footage by filmmaker Nelson Sullivan (1948-1989).


INSTALLATION PREVIEW: vimeo.com/225476297









Surface Tension

2015
Video installation on loop 

INSTALLATION PREVIEW: vimeo.com/154914664






183 Dreams
2013
Short film, 3:32 min, 16mm black and white film




Ladybird
2013
Short film, 4 min, HD video

Co-Written and Co-Directed by Sunny Leerasanthanah and Sydney Kovar. Originally screened at Ithaca College, New York




©2023 SUNNY LEERASANTHANAH