One serendipitous spring day in 2015, I happened upon Saravuth Inn near the southwest corner of Union Square Park, Manhattan. He ardently recounted his odyssey from Cambodia as a young teenager during the Vietnam War to America and the hardships and challenges he encountered, and his status as displaced. Saravuth made a living out of playing chess in the park year-round.
Inn lost his family toward the end of the Vietnam War. In 1975, as America decamped from Southeast Asia, he was flown to the US, part of the Operation Babylift. An American family adopted him, but after physical and verbal abuses he became a ward of the state of New Jersey.
Inn won a scholarship at Rutgers University. He eventually settled in Canada where he met his future wife, but was divorced eighteen years later. Inn returned to a post-9/11 America in 2008, without travel documents. His only proof of identity was a Washington Post article featuring his arduous story. The authorities classified him as displaced. “In trying to recover everything that I’ve lost,” he said, “I’ve lost everything that I had.”
He settled in Union Square where he quickly established himself as one of the dominant chess players. The community of the park regulars was supportive of Saravuth, but he remained largely homeless until 2017.
Inn's wish was to move to his country of birth. His legal status in the US was in a state of limbo. He smoked marijuana daily to alleviate a condition of epilepsy he was afflicted with due to a bomb fragment he suffered as a child. In an age of catastrophic wars forcing massive migrations, Saravuth’s story is highly topical. Saravuth passed on in New York City in late 2019, ailing and destitute.
Chess game in exchange for donation, Union Square, New York. Fall 2015.
Saravuth Inn, Union Square. Fall 2015.
Saravuth packing his stand as rain approaches. Fall 2015.
Union Square doubled as Saravuth's home at night. Fall 2015.
Park Enforcement Patrol officers asking Saravuth not to sleep in Union Square. Fall 2015.
End of day, Saravuth spending the night in the subway system. Fall 2015.
Saravuth in his Harlem YMCA room where smoking is not permitted. His sojourn would prove to be short. Fall 2015.
Saravuth Inn in Union Square with his chess set. Winter 2015.
View of Union Square from Saravuth's seat. Winter 2016.
Chess game. Spring 2016.
Mid day break, Union Square. Spring 2016.
"This is my story, look me up."
Focus on chess. Summer 2016.
Chess game. Winter 2017.
Marijuana was an essential aspect of Saravuth's daily routine. Winter 2017.
Marijuana moment. Winter 2017.
Lighthearted moment. Summer 2017.
Saravuth was a talented musician. Fall 2017.
Contemplative moment. Winter 2018.
Saravuth's admiration of James Joyce's Dubliners. Spring 2018.
End of day. Fall 2018.
Union Square with subway station in background. Summer 2019.
Union Square with subway station in background. Summer 2019.
Union Square with subway station in background. Summer 2019.
Saravuth passed on one month after this photo was taken. Summer 2019.
Chess game in exchange for donation, Union Square, New York. Fall 2015.
Saravuth Inn, Union Square. Fall 2015.
Saravuth packing his stand as rain approaches. Fall 2015.
Union Square doubled as Saravuth's home at night. Fall 2015.
Park Enforcement Patrol officers asking Saravuth not to sleep in Union Square. Fall 2015.
End of day, Saravuth spending the night in the subway system. Fall 2015.
Saravuth in his Harlem YMCA room where smoking is not permitted. His sojourn would prove to be short. Fall 2015.
Saravuth Inn in Union Square with his chess set. Winter 2015.
View of Union Square from Saravuth's seat. Winter 2016.
Chess game. Spring 2016.
Mid day break, Union Square. Spring 2016.
"This is my story, look me up."
Focus on chess. Summer 2016.
Chess game. Winter 2017.
Marijuana was an essential aspect of Saravuth's daily routine. Winter 2017.
Marijuana moment. Winter 2017.
Lighthearted moment. Summer 2017.
Saravuth was a talented musician. Fall 2017.
Contemplative moment. Winter 2018.
Saravuth's admiration of James Joyce's Dubliners. Spring 2018.
End of day. Fall 2018.
Union Square with subway station in background. Summer 2019.
Union Square with subway station in background. Summer 2019.
Union Square with subway station in background. Summer 2019.
Saravuth passed on one month after this photo was taken. Summer 2019.
Farras Abdelnour Photography
A New York-based freelance photographer specializing in fine art and documentaries