/ 2025 / Analog / Fine Art

• Prize
  Honorable Mention
• Photographer
  Tian Liu, China
• Website
  https://tian-liu-x.com/
• Instagram
  @tian_liu_photo

We can only capture others’ time to reflect on our own.
I spent my childhood with my cousin. He wasn’t just part of it—he was what it meant. We grew up together until I turned eight, then saw each other once a year. The last time I saw him, I was fourteen. He died by suicide in 2014, before turning eighteen.
In my hometown, it’s tradition to erase all traces of the departed—his photos, documents, even his name.
Years later, I saw two children waiting: one boy, one girl, reminding me of us.
This isn’t a photo of him, but it carries the feeling of those days. A reflection of a childhood I lost.

Tian Liu is a Chinese photographer, inspired by her living experiences between China and the U.S. Her work delves into identity, belonging, and gender, challenging societal norms and exploring personal and collective stories. Through her photography, Liu captures the nuances of cultural and personal narratives, aiming to connect individual experiences with larger societal themes. She received her M.F.A. in Photography and Media from the California Institute of the Arts in 2024.

Awards 2024 24th Julia Margaret Cameron Awards – Category Winner, Women Seen by Women
2024 PX3 Prix de la Photographie Paris - Honorable Mention