32 Years Later: The Legacy of
Chinese Intercountry Adoption
Jinchang, Gansu, 1995
Wuhan, Hubei, 2003
Nanning, Guangxi, 1996
Wuhan, Hubei, 1999
Jiangxi, 2003
Duchang county, Jiangxi, 2000
Jiangxi, 2003
Xuan’en County, Hubei, 2001.
Jiangxi. 2003
Hunan, 2002
Shanghai, 2006
Ningdu, Jiangxi, 1999
Fengcheng, Jiangxi, 2003
Wanzhou, Chongqing, 2003
Wuwei, Gansu, 2003
Yangjiang, 2002
Hechuan district, Chongqing, 2007
Hunan, 2000
Changsha, Hunan, 2004
Dongguan, Guangdong, 2004
Guangzhou, Guangdong, 2001.
Fengcheng, Jiangxi, 2002
Dongguan, Guangdong, 2004
Anhui, 2000
Hunan, 2000
Fengcheng, Jiangxi, 2004
Chongqing, 1997
Wuhan, Hubei, 1996
Guangdong, Guangzhou , 2005
Dongguan, Guangdong, 2002
Guiping, Guangxi, 2005
Zhouzhou, Hunan, 2002
About the Project
32 Years Later: The Legacy of Chinese Intercountry Adoption is an ongoing series of portraits that focuses on themes of self-definition, growth, and resilience among Chinese transnational adoptees. Following the Chinese Government’s recent and sudden decision to end their foreign adoption policy, over 160,000 of us worldwide are now left to reflect on its three decades of history and nonexistent future. This conversation is extremely complex and important within contemporary dialogue, intersecting with issues of immigration, citizenship, and cultural representation. 32 Years Later recognizes the individuals impacted by the personal and political legacy of this history, analyzes how we as adoptees collectively fit under this shared identity, and celebrates the ways we have grown beyond it. For me, this represents one of the community’s many efforts to connect and heal as a diaspora of displaced peoples.
Isabella has shown her work in several cities, including Philadelphia, New York, Boston, and London, and her work can be found in the International Center of Photography’s permanent collection. She has also co-curated photographic exhibitions at the Photography Gallery at the University of the Arts and the Copeland Gallery in South London.
Other work can be viewed here.