Following bloodlines

Photo by Taryn Simon For China Daily

"We believe that Taryn Simon's unique ability to combine photographic image, journalistic research, and writerly narrative will find a receptive audience here," says UCCA Director Philip Tinari.

Each project starts with research and writing, which slowly unravels into actual production. The artist usually imagines an idea and then tries to locate it in reality, which often turns out different than the original idea.

"I may have read about something in a novel, seen an article, heard or even misheard something in a conversation. I then start down a path of research, which often winds out into something I could never invent. The actual taking of the photographs collectively amounts to about a year of time. The rest is researching, accessing, organizing and writing," she says.

The process was exhausting and unpredictable. Along the way, she was confronted with incidents such as natural disasters or rejection from local authorities.

Together with her assistant, Simon traveled to four or five different countries following the migratory patterns of the individuals in that bloodline. There were works that saw her coordinate with over 100 individuals, trying to locate them and getting their agreement to participate. There was a rigorous mapping of each bloodline and they had to constantly be sure everyone was contacted and all lines were accounted for.