Best.
Brandán

It seems that everything I might want to say has already been said. Pomara’s three word analysis somes up my own reaction perfectly.

Congratulations, Lijie Zhang. You have moved me with this powerful piece of work.

Lijie, I feel as though my mind is expanding into new shapes, my passion for color is exploding, my love of people is being fed, and my awe for you and your compassion, creativity, love and humanity has gone off the charts. I never knew photography could be used in this way. Yes, I have seen beautiful, colorful images before. Yes, I have seen essays that tell people’s stories in truthful, sensitive and respectful ways. But never have I experienced such an exceptional blend of fine art and documentary photography. I am literally blown away!

Lijie, thank you so much for doing this work. It gives so much to those you have photographed and interviewed–especially the young people and their parents–but also benefits all who see these portraits and read these life stories. No one can see this essay without finding their attitudes begin to change towards persons who do not fit into our society’s ideas of how individuals “should” be, think and act. You so obviously see each person as a unique individual worthy of respect and appreciation that your attitude shines through your words and images. Art brings us together, doesn’t it? And the art you have created here reaches across different languages, cultures, mental abilities, psychological and physical conditions to allow us to celebrate our common humanity. How I would love to meet you one day!

The bit about the Chinese family names was meant for people less familiar with such things than Bob is (you must admit it could be confusing to somebody not so familiar).

Cheers,

1) Lijie Zhang is one of the 2013 Human Rights and Education Magnum Foudnation winners. The page I linked to was the page that Magnum Foundation as but has not as yet updated. Sorry, I should have made that more explicit. But, sorry to burst your bubble Sidney, but Lijie is one of this years winners. I apologize for not waiting until the Magnum Announcement was updated on their page. My error due to my enthusiasm for her and her work.

2) I know what is and isnt a family name in Chinese.

all the best
Bob

Sorry to burst the bubble, Bob, but the the 2012 Human Rights and Education Magnum awardee is not Lijie Zhang, whose family name is Zhang, but a male photographer named Liu Jie (family name Liu) who works for Xinhua:

http://lightbox.time.com/2013/02/05/migrant-nation-liu-jie-documents-chinas-ongoing-transformation/#4

CONGRATULATIONS TO LIJIE! She has been awarded one of the 2012 Human Rights and Education Magnum Foundation Award/Fellowship.!

very excited to see that and well deserved! Here is a link to the page and the other 2012 Fellows:

http://magnumfoundation.org/education.html

I’ve jut gone through this again, and yes, more and more bubbles forth at every viewing. I was sharing this with Martha and she commented on #11, Gu Wen’s portrait, how all the suns echoed her wonderful beaming smile, and how each smiling suns rays beamed in a different delightful way.

This project reaches the very highest standards, from original conception, depth of awareness and access, sensitivity and rapport, to technical execution and finally to stunning artistic visual impact.
It is hard to adequately express my admiration for what Lijie has done.
I just hope she will continue to bring this level of concern, understanding, and artistry to further projects in the future.

http://www.adolfwoelfli.ch/index.php?c=e&level=17&sublevel=0

towering work, and another example of the limitless possibility for photogrpahy and people to transcend our narrow conception of selves adn of others…..

remarkable

This is one of the best stories I’ve seen here in a long time. Solid research on a difficult subject, a novel approach, precise and informative text and the imagery is spectacular. In fact it’s the kind of work where the photographer is so efficient that she becomes invisible. I don’t think about her at all being so immersed in the artists and their stories, but at the same time I appreciate immensely her incredible work.

I second all the above comments and especially Gordon’s: “The overlay of each individuals artwork directly onto them, their own environment, utterly wonderful.”

Thank you so much for this!

The Innocent project is a remarkable example of that both as documentary photography but also as counter point to the way most documentary photography is used. Working with both the language of cinema (the concept of this project reminds me of parts of Oshima’s extraordinary film ‘The Man Who left his will on Film”) as well as the art that these subjects have created themselves, it acts as a powerful reminder of not only the intensive force of art-making to begin with, how it inhabits and defintes and creates all of us in its makeing, but reminds viewers that these people are more than the some of their outward and socially-/medically-defined selves. But there is also a deeper sophistication at play here as well, that reminds viewers of the relationship of photographer to subject, of viewer as voyeur, as the role that is inescapable, the interlocking, between watcher and viewed. It is a netting, a webbing, an enveloping relationship that though often denied is one in which each of us has a responsibility. That Lijie has harnessed these young artists and wrapped them, and our own eyes, in their art, is both a powerful reminder of our necessary connection to one another but the importance of each of us to reimagine how we see, not only these specific artists and young adults, but see ourselves and our reimaginging.

the photographs are raptorously gorgeous and I love how much their art adds to the collision and abstraction of their portraits. Which is this, portraiture of the artists, a showcasing of the art, a magic-lantern staging of the expression of their internal dreams and expressions, are all of that at once….

And still, at the center of this project, the photographer has vanished and remained behind only in the concept and at the fore, the powerful art, the powerful, vibrant creative artists and not one scinta of pitty or sorrow or cliche.

A foundationally humane and revelatory work. Inspired, inspiring and form-titling.

Congratulations Lijie, I am so happy to see this body of work and for these young artist to showcase their own electric lives.!

hugs
bob