Artist Statement
• I started "Family Stuff" photography series from 2003, till now 22 years, 160 photographs and it is still on-going. I
gather a family’s belongings from different spaces in the home and staged them in one place to take a photograph with
the family members. Most of these photos are taken outdoors, with the home as the background. In many years, my
works were created in China during a time of rapid economic development, modernization and globalization. I used this
way to document history. In the photos, a household’s belongings are briefly exposed in an external space; also, can be
seen are environment changes, urban expansion, technological advancements and shifts in people's lifestyles. Through
static documentation of the above, I create a dynamic social panorama.
• From 2022, I started photographing American families. The family is the smallest unit that forms society, and many
such units make up this society. I continue to use the "Family Stuff" series to reflect the internal structure and diversity
of contemporary American society. I pay more attention to showcasing their cultural and spiritual life. I spend a
significant amount of time preparing for each photo, getting to know the story of the subjects, visiting their rooms,
contemplating the concept of the shoot, and carefully selecting the items for display. The concepts of these works cover
the lifestyle of native-born Americans, and immigrants, as well as themes of love, work, identity, gender and the passage
of time. Each material object is carefully chosen to reflect the subject’s characteristics, interests and aspirations. I stage
these items, visually enhance the familiar scenes and highlight the current life status, beliefs and emotional memories of
a family or individual. Through a single photograph, I depict both their external reality and their inner world. The images
help viewers understand these families’ stories and often provoke contemplation.
• I am thankful to those who were willing to face my camera, show their belongings and share their stories.