Series description
On 12 May, 2008, an earthquake with a magnitude of 8.0 struck Wenchuan, China, killing more than 69,000 people, injuring over 370,000 more and leaving another 17,000 missing. They say that ‘time is a great healer’, but it can also make things worse. This photographic series focuses on the survivors of the tragedy. The first stage was to take portraits in 2008, 2009, 2014, 2018 and 2023. In each one, the survivors held a print of their previous portrait, so the final image combines multiple portraits showing the passage of time. I juxtaposed the portraits with images of the earthquake scene from 2008, which I printed and burned, tore, sprayed with water mist, reassembled, rephotographed and pasted to symbolise ‘nirvana’ and a ‘rebirth from the ashes’. To this composite I added text from the survivors, written in Chinese, describing their 15-year life journey since the earthquake.
Biography
Resume of Qiu Yan Gender: male Year of birth: 1961 Current： Director of Photo Department of Changjiang Daily Education: Journalism, Huazhong University of Science & Technology; Honors & Awards: Attended World Press Photo CPA seminar from 2001 to 2003; World Press Photo 3rd prize winner; ( two times: 2004, 2005) China International Press Photo Contest (CHIPP) 1ST prize winner (three times: 2004, 2006, 2009) Hamdan International Photography Award (2016-2017) Portfolio Category 5th winner
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Taken on 28 June 2023, more than one month after the 15th anniversary of the Wenchuan earthquake, on the bank of the Mínjiāng river in Sichuan Province.
Earthquake survivor Cao Liangying (74), and her grandson Luo Yuanhang (15), hold their portrait taken in 2018. Luo Yuanhang has now graduated from junior high school and is preparing to go to high school.
© Qiu Yan, China Mainland, Shortlist, Professional competition, Creative, 2024 Sony World Photography Awards
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Taken on 28 June 2023, more than one month after the 15th anniversary of the Wenchuan earthquake, on the banks of the Mínjiāng river, Sichuan Province.
Earthquake survivor Chen Zhenlin (19) holds his portrait taken in 2018. He is now a freshman at Chengdu Vocational and Technical College of Industry.
© Qiu Yan, China Mainland, Shortlist, Professional competition, Creative, 2024 Sony World Photography Awards
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Taken on 28 June 2023, more than one month after the 15th anniversary of the Wenchuan earthquake, Sichuan Province.
Earthquake survivor Jiang Liu (29) holds his portrait taken in 2018. He has been suffering from bipolar disorder and is cared for by his elderly grandparents.
© Qiu Yan, China Mainland, Shortlist, Professional competition, Creative, 2024 Sony World Photography Awards
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Taken on 27 June 2023, more than one month after the 15th anniversary of the Wenchuan earthquake, Sichuan Province.
At the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, earthquake survivor Liang Kexin (22) holds her portrait taken in 2018. Later that day she attended her graduation ceremony and her results meant she was admitted to Tongji University for postgraduate study.
© Qiu Yan, China Mainland, Shortlist, Professional competition, Creative, 2024 Sony World Photography Awards
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Taken on 1 July 2023, more than one month after the 15th anniversary of the Wenchuan earthquake, Sichuan Province.
Earthquake survivor Gong Yue (33) holds her portrait taken in 2018. She now works for a state-owned enterprise in Beichuan County.
© Qiu Yan, China Mainland, Shortlist, Professional competition, Creative, 2024 Sony World Photography Awards
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Taken on 29 June 2023, more than one month after the 15th anniversary of the Wenchuan earthquake, Sichuan Province.
Earthquake survivor Li Deqiang (44) holds his portrait taken in 2018. He now works as a truck driver for a logistics company.
© Qiu Yan, China Mainland, Shortlist, Professional competition, Creative, 2024 Sony World Photography Awards
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Taken on 29 June 2023, more than one month after the 15th anniversary of the Wenchuan earthquake, Sichuan Province.
Earthquake survivor Gan Yu (18) holds her portrait taken in 2018. She took this year's college entrance examination and was admitted to the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China.
© Qiu Yan, China Mainland, Shortlist, Professional competition, Creative, 2024 Sony World Photography Awards
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Taken on 26 June 2023, more than one month after the 15th anniversary of the Wenchuan earthquake, Sichuan Province.
Earthquake survivor Li Pengcheng (22) holds his portrait taken in 2018. He is now a junior at the university.
© Qiu Yan, China Mainland, Shortlist, Professional competition, Creative, 2024 Sony World Photography Awards