Artist Statement

China Dream (working title) is an ongoing series exploring the layered sentiments tied to my hometown, Zhaoqing, in southern China. Having lived abroad for fourteen years, I maintained a regular rhythm of returning until the pandemic brought a four-year separation. My visit in 2024 marked the longest absence I had experienced.

In this body of work, I photograph the city’s oldest neighborhoods and create portraits of my grandparents, who form the emotional core of the project. Moving between these spaces, I encounter a range of emotions: the regret for what has stayed unchanged, and a deep admiration for the resilience of those who remain.

In the context of the “China Dream” national slogan, I find myself questioning how the pursuit of global influence is manifested in the quiet, everyday lives of those closest to me. Through this series, I reflect on my relationships with my city and my family, and what it means to belong,  to a place, to loved ones, and to a history that continues beyond us.