"Win or Lose" captures the poignant narrative of Win, a Chinese immigrant who arrived in New York City at the age of 15. The series portrays his isolated existence within the confines of Flushing, Chinatown, where he navigates daily life amidst linguistic barriers and limited social support. The project highlights his inadvertent entanglement in a money-laundering trap, which restricts him to a monitored life with an ankle bracelet. The project creates an impartial yet empathetic documentary of Win’s trials and tribulations in U.S instead of criticizing its unjust treatment of Asians.
Born in 1997 in Hangzhou, China, Yizhen Zhang is a documentary photographer, filmmaker, and visual artist. He captures the essence of contemporary life through light and human narratives, blending documentary and street photography with natural light to create raw, impactful visuals. Zhang holds an MFA in Photography from the School of Visual Arts in New York, studying under Magnum photographer Alex Webb. His work has been exhibited internationally and has received multiple photography awards. His fashion photography has also been featured in VOGUE China and Harper’s Bazaar.
