Your name
Jiatong Lu
Place of birth
northwest part of China. 
Place where you live now
Beacon, USA
3 words to describe you
empathetic, emotional, contradictory
Why do you take pictures?
I take pictures to explore my inner emotions and observe the external world.
Where do you get your inspiration?
I get inspiration from my life experiences.
Who are your influences?
Edward Yang, Shunji Iwai, Yoshihiko Ueda, Nan Goldin, Sally Mann, and many others..
What determines the subject matter you choose?
My subjects always stem from my own experiences, often driven by emotions such as confusion, doubt, helplessness, and, at times, anger.
What impact would you like your art to have?
I hope my work can resonate with the viewers.
What artwork do you never get bored with?
Always Dream - Photobook by Yoshihiko Ueda
Is there anything you want to add?
No, thank you.

Nowhere land
Project statement

My ongoing project, Nowhere Land, explores the silent epidemic of chronic Lyme disease and tick-borne illnesses in the United States, a condition I personally contracted in 2021. It captures the silent struggles of individuals battling this invisible illness. Annually, around 476,000 people in the United States are diagnosed and treated for Lyme disease. Many patients are misdiagnosed due to inaccurate testing and misleading CDC information during the early stages. In addition to coping with their symptoms, chronic Lyme patients often have to deal with the inability to work or attend school, isolation from family and friends, trauma from medical abuse, and tremendous financial pressure. The project sheds light on their invisible battles, aiming to raise awareness about the challenges faced by countless chronic Lyme disease patients.

Subjects are: Sun, Syd, Barbara, Cody and daughter Scarlet, Ryan, Sue, Michelle, Shivani, Sandy and daughter Annie and Buck(ii).

jiatong lu
@jiatonglu_