Jiatong Zhao

About

Jiatong Zhao is a London-based photographer who is originally from Beijing, China. She is pursuing an MA in Photography at the Royal College of Art, building on her foundation from a BA in Photography at the London College of Communication. 

Jiatong aims to create a visual narrative that speaks to the universal quest for identity and belonging. Her recent focus on the fear of the body and intimate relationships reveals a profound journey into self-awareness and personal vulnerability and finding a sense of slowness. Her pieces seek to challenge and expand the viewer’s understanding of cultural identity, personal history, and the complexities of human emotions.

The project “Do Not Be Afraid” 2024 is a new work that continues the themes explored in “I Would Like You to Know the Other Side of Me,” 2023.

Jiatong delves into her persistent anxieties surrounding her body and relationships. She uses the camera to engage in a dialogue with herself, uncovering deep emotions within fear, unease, avoidance, vulnerability, and sensitivity. The emotions expressed in the photographs are complex feelings of fear towards both the body and intimate relationships. Each photograph becomes a reflection of her inner self, mirroring her ongoing exploration and contemplation of herself, others, and relationships. Photography becomes her means of expression and reflection, helping her find clarity in a complex emotional world.