We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Xiaoran Zhu a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Xiaoran, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

One of my photography projects explores the complex relationships between identity, collective memory, space, and society in Wenzhou, the birthplace of China’s private economy. Known for its light industry and as a famous hometown for overseas Chinese, Wenzhou carries the memories of many Chinese living far from home, with its unique cuisine, climate, street culture, small alley, and dialect forming essential components of these memories. These factors create a strong sense of identity and pride among Wenzhou people, maintaining connections to their culture and community across generations and distances.

Despite the rapid changes brought by the internet, Wenzhou’s street-side shops and people still exude a vibrant street life, even though the city is not as bustling as in my father’s memories. Many of the now-dilapidated houses, built during the city’s booming development period around the turn of the millennium, retain a dream-like feeling from another time and space.

I began documenting Wenzhou in 2017 for two reasons. Firstly, it is my parents’ hometown. I was born and raised in Hangzhou, China, and only visited Wenzhou with my parents during holidays to see relatives. Wenzhou is a city that is both unfamiliar and intimate to me. I have never lived there, but I feel a stronger sense of belonging to it than to Hangzhou. This feeling intensified after moving to the United States for college, where China itself became both familiar and unfamiliar. Secondly, Wenzhou is one of the few cities where the bustling energy of crowded streets coexists with tranquil moments, reflecting the sense of dissociation I experience. I often wonder what factors people use to determine their self-identity: perhaps it is the space itself, the familiar culture, the food, the place of birth, or the place where one’s childhood memories were formed.

By documenting the daily lives of Wenzhou residents and the daily operations of shops, I attempt to present a genuine and intimate portrait of the city. These photographs explore how the spaces inhabited by Wenzhou people shape their identity and sense of belonging while also serving as vessels for collective memory. By capturing the essence of Wenzhou’s streetscapes, I hope to inspire a deeper understanding of the roles that collective memory and space play in shaping our perception of the world around us.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Xiaoran is a photographer, content creator, and designer born and raised in Hangzhou, China, with roots in Wenzhou. Xiaoran came to the United States at the age of 18 to pursue her education. She graduated from Villanova University with a degree in Marketing and two minors in Communication and Art History. As a freelance photographer, she has shot fashion, documentary, and street photographs. Her work has been selected and published on Vogue Italia’s curated photography platform.

Alongside her passion for photography, Xiaoran is deeply committed to social justice and filmmaking. She served as a cinematographer and editor at Last Letter Films, a student-run non-profit production company. The social justice documentary ‘Rooted,’ produced by LLF, was selected for The 14th Annual International Puerto Rican Heritage Film Festival.

After graduating from Villanova University, Xiaoran’s hands-on production experience extends to the fashion world, where she worked as a photo and marketing assistant at two designer brands, CARAA and Wenjüe Lu.

Now, she is exploring the intersection of art and technology at the Interactive Telecommunications Program at New York University.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding moments for me as a creative come when the stories I tell through my own lens resonate with the stories of others, as my work is primarily focused on social issues and culture. A prime example of this was when “Rooted,” a documentary I was involved in producing about the social justice struggles of Afro-Puerto Ricans, was selected by the International Puerto Rico Heritage Film Festival (IPRHFF) for screenings in New York. After one of the screenings, an elderly woman sitting next to me grabbed my arm and expressed how deeply moved and grateful she was. As a Black woman from Loíza herself, she personally related to the stories and culture portrayed in our film. She thanked us for documenting these experiences and creating a film that could reach a broader audience. It was an incredible moment to watch our film on the big screen and share the powerful culture and stories of the Loíza community with a wider audience.

Instances like this, where my work directly touches the lives of those whose stories I aim to tell, are the most fulfilling aspects of my creative journey. Knowing that my creative content has the power to give a voice to marginalized communities, raise awareness about social issues, and create a profound connection with individuals who see their own experiences reflected in my work is truly humbling and gratifying. It reaffirms the importance of visual storytelling as a means to bridge gaps, foster understanding, and inspire change. These moments of connection and impact fuel my passion for using my skills to shed light on the human experience, preserve cultural heritage, and contribute to the ongoing dialogue about the issues that shape our society.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

My goal is to create meaningful content that sheds light on important social issues, amplifies the voices of marginalized communities, and promotes positive change. I believe that visual storytelling has the power to bridge divides, foster empathy, and inspire action.

By focusing my lens on the human experience and the challenges faced by different communities, I aim to raise awareness, challenge stereotypes, and encourage dialogue about the issues that shape our society. Moreover, I am passionate about preserving and celebrating cultural heritage through my work. By documenting the stories, traditions, and experiences of diverse communities, I hope to contribute to the rich tapestry of human culture and ensure that these narratives are not lost or forgotten.

My mission goes beyond simply sending a message; I aim to amplify voices, celebrate resilience, and break cycles of inaction. Through my lens, I strive to capture not only the challenges and struggles faced by these communities but also their strength, resilience, and joy in the face of adversity. By showcasing the beauty, richness, and complexity of diverse cultures and experiences, I hope to foster a greater sense of understanding, empathy, and connection among my audiences.

Ultimately, my goal is to create art that not only informs and entertains but also empowers and transforms. I believe that by amplifying voices, celebrating resilience, and breaking cycles of inaction, I can contribute to a more just, compassionate, and equitable world. This sense of purpose fuels my creative journey, pushing me to continuously grow, learn, and challenge myself as an artist. It is the driving force behind every project I undertake, and it is what gives meaning and fulfillment to my work as a creative.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://xiaoranzhu.cargo.site/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mia_zhu0321/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/xiaoran-zhu/