Xin Li




In case it is the last time
£149

Xin Li
2023
This project captures Li Xin's life experiences in Shijiawa Village, Shaoyuan Town, Jiyuan, Henan, where he was born. He lived there for three years after his birth, while his grandparents had lived there for about 50 years. At the age of 17, Li Xin left his hometown to study in the UK, and over the past six years, he hasn’t spent much time with his family. Therefore, whenever he returns home, he takes photos of his family and listens to them share stories of the past and the history of the land.

The conversations and the process of photographing have been healing for everyone involved. Distant memories are revisited, tracing the changes across three generations. In his work, Li Xin uses a large format film camera and a medium format film camera, using photography to observe and tell the story of the connection between people and this land—how people build the land, are shaped by it, and ultimately remember everything here. This is a personal exploration and a reflection on belonging, heritage, and future development.



    这个项目捕捉了李鑫在出生地河南济源邵原镇史家腰村的生活体验,他出生后的三年居住在那里,而他的爷爷奶奶则曾在这里生活了50年左右。17岁就离开家乡前往英国留学,过去的六年里李鑫陪伴家人的时间并不多。因此每次返回家乡时他都会用相机拍摄家人,听他们讲述过去的事情和关于这片土地的历史。
    谈话和拍摄过程对所有人来说都是一种疗愈。遥远的记忆被反复咀嚼,也由此勾勒出了三代人的变迁。李鑫在创作中使用大画幅胶片相机和中画幅胶片机,借相机来观察和讲述人与这片土地的联结。人们如何建造土地以及如何被土地塑造,最后又如何将这里的一切铭记。 这是一次个人探索,也是对归属感、传承和未来发展的思考。