- CollegeLondon College of Communication
- CourseMA Photojournalism and Documentary Photography
- Graduation year2025
China once experienced a large-scale hepatitis B outbreak. From 1970 to 1992, within just two decades, the number of hepatitis B virus carriers surged to around 120 million. The sharing of unclean needles and other unsafe injection practices was a major cause, alongside sexual and mother-to-child transmission. Especially in rural areas, limited medical resources led to widespread needle-sharing, and such unsafe medical practices silently accelerated the spread of the virus. Although the number of hepatitis B carriers has now declined from its peak of 120 million to around 70 million, the trauma continues to resonate within both social and familial memory. Liver cancer caused by hepatitis B took my grandfather’s life, ending his days in a succession of uncontrollable nightmares. This silent and chronic infectious disease remains incurable. To this day, the term “hepatitis B” lingers as an indelible shadow within my family. Six years after his passing, I returned to the small town again where he once lived. This project presents portraits of anonymous hepatitis B patients. From a cautious distance to the lens, they not only carry the invisible traces of illness but also of history and memory. Beneath the skin, between “seeing” and “being seen,” hides the pain of individuals and the forgetfulness of a society.
Final work
The Man with the Shell
In the image, a person wearing a dark grey T-shirt stands against a light floral-patterned wall. The T-shirt bears the white text “MAKE A GESTURE.” With their right hand, they hold a large white seashell that completely covers their face, making it invisible. Their left hand rests on the hip, the body slightly tilted. Soft lighting highlights the smooth sheen of the shell, subtly echoing the floral texture of the background.
White sofa
In the image, a light beige two-seater sofa sits against a white wall. The fabric is decorated with symmetrical golden floral patterns that appear slightly worn with age. The seat cushion shows faint signs of fading and use. Above the sofa, a window with dark brown bars is set into the wall, its frame chipped and weathered. The floor is tiled in a pale color, with a loose cable visible in the lower right corner. The overall scene feels simple and quiet, carrying subtle traces of time and habitation.
Red Curtains and the Man
This photograph conveys a quiet and subtle atmosphere. In the image, a person wearing a grey short-sleeved shirt stands between a pair of deep red curtains. The curtains have a textured floral pattern that catches the light softly. The upper part of the person’s body is obscured by the fabric, with the head completely hidden, leaving only the shoulders and part of one arm visible. A faint blue tone appears in the background, enhancing the vividness of the red curtains. The overall scene is simple and still, creating a strong contrast of color and a subtle sense of mystery.
Hand and Bird
In the image, a pair of hands extends from the left, holding a blue bird with its wings spread open. The bird’s feathers are bright, and its beak is yellow, appearing to be an artificial decorative bird rather than a real one. The background shows a corner of an interior space, with the upper wall painted white and the lower part covered in brown wooden paneling, separated by an orange trim. Soft light falls from above, making the blue of the bird stand out vividly against the simple setting.
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What's Under The Skin
China once experienced a large-scale hepatitis B outbreak. From 1970 to 1992, within just two decades, the number of hepatitis B virus carriers surged to around 120 million. The sharing of unclean needles and other unsafe injection practices was a major cause, alongside sexual...
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