FISSURE OF A SWEETDREAM

Jialin Yan
Jialin Yan explores the lives of young romantics who have left the chaos of urban life for the serene beauty of Hainan Province’s surfing haven. Drawn by the promise of simplicity and nature, these individuals immerse themselves in a rhythm dictated by the sun, moon, and tides, embodying a way of life that feels as organic as dye seeping into fabric. Yan’s images capture this idyllic existence, where the ocean becomes both a literal and spiritual refuge.
Yet, the project also reveals subtle cracks in this idealized escape. Beneath the surface lies a tension between freedom and the lingering grip of modern pressures. Through intimate portraits and sweeping landscapes, Yan captures the beauty, fragility, and contradictions of this sanctuary, inviting viewers to question whether true disconnection from urban life is ever fully possible.















Jialin Yan
Jialin Yan (b. 1992) is a photographer currently based in London and Shanghai, pursuing her studies in Photography at the Royal College of Art. Her work explores themes of lost memories and emotions within individuals and communities, employing visual narratives to investigate the process of memory abandonment.
Yan’s practice has received international recognition, being a finalist in the inaugural Female Documentary Photography Foundation Award in 2023 and shortlisted for the LensCulture Critics’ Choice Awards in 2022. She has also been invited as a guest lecturer at Tsinghua University. Her work has been featured in publications such as British Journal of Photography, FT Weekend, HUCK Magazine, and LIFE Magazine, and exhibited in major cities including New York, Rome, and Tokyo.
Yan has collaborated with renowned brands and media, including CHANEL Foundation, BenQ,Xiaohongshu, Xiaomi, GIADA, superELLE, GLASS China Edition, Aranya, Adidas, Air Jordan, Tencent Video, and iDest Magazine, among others.