There is an ancient Chinese legend that describes an invisible red thread joining those who are destined to connect, regardless of time, place, or circumstance. For photographer Richard Bowen, that thread led him to China’s state-run welfare institutions, at a time when there were thousands of children, primarily girls, growing up without families to take care of them. mei mei (circa 2000) presents a poignant glimpse of just a few of these remarkable children. Composed against neutral backgrounds, these portraits capture the girls’ inner lives, away from their often bleak surroundings. The images show an almost endless range of expressions: small faces filled with longing and hope, joy and sadness, humor and mischief, defiance and despair. Through the camera’s eye, we see these young vulnerable children as individuals with vital, distinct, and beautiful personalities that they rarely have the chance to express. Once each unique human being comes into focus, the connection is made, and the red thread becomes visible. And once seen, the bond can never be broken.
“This was this totally unique period of history -- creating the largest all-female diaspora ever” Richard Bowen 2021
