In June 2025 I had the privilege of presenting my solo exhibition "Worlds Apart" in Shanghai. It was a deeply personal project that brought together years of photographic work across continents and conflict zones.
The exhibition was structured in four chapters: Fleeting Childhoods, Ritual and Rhythm, Portraits of Presence, and Together, Still. Each section invited visitors into moments of vulnerability, resilience, and shared humanity — drawn from places as distant as Afghanistan, Ukraine, Mongolia, and Lebanon.
Alongside the exhibition I was honored to give talks and lectures in several cities and institutions across China, including public events in Suzhou and Shanghai, as well as a special guest lecture at the United World College. These conversations offered space to go deeper, into the stories behind the images and the ethical questions that come with documenting human lives across borders.
What moved me most was the depth of engagement from the Shanghai audience. The conversations, the questions, and the quiet moments in front of certain prints reminded me why I do this work.
I am grateful to everyone who attended and to all who helped make the exhibition a reality. A heartfelt thank you to the team at La Cava and my chinese agency U&ME for their support and trust.
This exhibition was not an endpoint. It marked the beginning of something larger.
Laurin Strele
