“Interior Lives: Contemporary Photographs of Chinese New Yorkers” is a really captivating show that offers glimpses of the struggles and complexities of immigrant life in NYC.

NYC has nine predominantly Chinese neighborhoods that make up the largest ethnic Chinese population outside of Asia. With exception of the touristy few blocks of Canal Street, most people probably don’t even realize these enclaves exist. Yet, exist they do, and the tens of thousands of Chinese New Yorkers are finding ways to navigate the harsh realities of immigrant life.

Photographer Annie Ling‘s work stood out for me. She photographed the lives of the residents of the fourth floor at 81 Bowery, the now shuttered maze of closet-sized cubicles, whose residents paid as little as $100 for their space. There was no ceiling so chatter, snoring, sounds from the TV could be heard throughout the day and night. Despite these circumstances, the residents formed a close-knit community and would watch watch Chinese soap operas together and extend a hand for the ones in need.

I’d read about this kind of living arrangement in Chinatown before, but these photographs tell a much better story than words ever could.