Jichu Mao

Portrait

23 photographs from 4 series

A man in LED glasses stands on a rooftop stairway at night, small against neon-lit towers.He leans on the stair rail holding two light sticks, his glasses glowing.Seen from above in profile, he crouches by the railing with a red light stick, the city spread out below.He stands with the light sticks crossed over his chest, lit red by them.With his back to the camera he raises a red light stick toward the skyline.
A woman in a black slip dress sits on a cream sofa holding a red rose, lit from the side.She reclines on the sofa in a dark room, the rose held up to one eye.She leans on the arm of the sofa, looking down at the rose in her hand.She holds the rose to her lips and looks at the camera.She leans back with the rose raised beside her face, eyes lowered.
She crouches beside the sofa, looking down.She crouches beside the sofa and looks up at the camera.Close portrait: she smiles, shelves and warm light behind her.Close portrait, her eyes turned to the side, shelves behind her.Close portrait from above; she looks down with a slight smile.
A woman in a grey cap and sleeveless top stands on a lawn and looks at the camera, a pagoda behind the trees.Close profile: the peak of her cap hides her eyes.Seen from behind, she tilts her head back with her eyes closed.She sits on a wooden bench in profile, one arm resting on her knee.She stands on a path at dusk holding the strap of her bag, looking at the camera.
She looks back from a winding path as the park lamps come on.A street musician in a red jacket and sunglasses plays guitar on a bench.A street musician in a bandana plays guitar by a wooden fence, his case open beside him.