Ashes to ashes. Dust to dust.

© Sam Chin - In 1961, my mother was born. She had four older brothers and sisters before her. © Sam Chin - That was a poor era, and at that time the country was experiencing the Cultural Revolution, with society in great turmoil. © Sam Chin - The mother had already been working at the factory, but she still looks like a child. View all images ↓
View all images ↓
  • Dates
    2026 - 2026
  • Author
  • Topics Portrait, Landscape, Daily Life, Fine Art, Documentary, Archive, Photobooks
  • Location China
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My mother (1961–2020) lived a brief, simple life, dedicating herself to family and factory work before dying of cancer. This project retraces her existence: archived portraits capture "Time," flora marks life’s progression, and the earth signifies fate's

Ashes to ashes. Dust to dust. 

My mother (1961–2020) lived for only 59 years, nearly six of which were spent in the relentless torment of cancer. Born at a time when the country was deeply impoverished, and as the youngest after four older siblings, she barely managed to complete ninth grade before entering the factory workforce.

Her life mirrored that of most women born in China during that era: starting work in her teens, marrying and having a child in her early twenties, and then dedicating her entire existence to her child, her husband, and her job—all the way until her retirement at fifty. She never boarded an airplane or a cruise ship; the farthest place she ever traveled to was a national forest park less than 400 kilometers from our home. After her cancer diagnosis at fifty-three, my father and I tried to take her to see more of the world, but her frail body simply could not endure long journeys, forcing us to give up.

My mother’s life was both simple and brief. This project is a retrospective journey through her existence. The faces frozen in old photographs capture the true face of "Time"; the imagery of flora symbolizes the progression of life; while the photographs of the earth represent the origin and ultimate destination of fate.

All things originate from the soil, and to the soil, all shall eventually return.

© Sam Chin - In 1961, my mother was born. She had four older brothers and sisters before her.
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In 1961, my mother was born. She had four older brothers and sisters before her.

© Sam Chin - That was a poor era, and at that time the country was experiencing the Cultural Revolution, with society in great turmoil.
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That was a poor era, and at that time the country was experiencing the Cultural Revolution, with society in great turmoil.

© Sam Chin - The mother had already been working at the factory, but she still looks like a child.
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The mother had already been working at the factory, but she still looks like a child.

© Sam Chin - The mother working in the silk spinning workshop.
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The mother working in the silk spinning workshop.

© Sam Chin - Mother in her youth
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Mother in her youth

© Sam Chin - Mother and father met and fell in love
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Mother and father met and fell in love

© Sam Chin - Mother and I
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Mother and I

© Sam Chin - A family of three
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A family of three

© Sam Chin - Everything was about to change. A few months later, my mother suffered from cancer.
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Everything was about to change. A few months later, my mother suffered from cancer.

© Sam Chin - Mother still in the recovery period after surgery
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Mother still in the recovery period after surgery

© Sam Chin - Cancer recurrence, ongoing chemotherapy. But we celebrated her birthday with hope.
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Cancer recurrence, ongoing chemotherapy. But we celebrated her birthday with hope.

© Sam Chin - All was lost. We had done everything we could.
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All was lost. We had done everything we could.

© Sam Chin - The Final Farewell
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The Final Farewell

© Sam Chin - Goodbye, mother, we will see each other again.
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Goodbye, mother, we will see each other again.