||Zhao James⁰¹

Date of birth: 14.10.2002 (Hong Kong, China).

His family: his mother was a librarian at the university library, his father a master restorer of wooden furniture; precision and the ability to see beauty in imperfection were prized in the family. The house always smelled of varnish and old paper, and noisy celebrations were replaced by quiet evenings: they would go over blueprints together, leaf through art albums, and discuss how light falls on different surfaces. For his 18th birthday, his parents gave him a tattered volume of Mandelstam and a vintage film camera—he hasn't parted with either since.

School: He attended a high school with a focus on humanities, where he especially enjoyed visual culture and literature classes. He distinguished himself with his projects on urban aesthetics: he photographed narrow alleys, reflections in wet sidewalks, and the interplay of shadows between high-rises. His photo series "Between Buildings" won a prize at a city youth photography competition, and teachers noted his ability to find space even in the densest buildings.

Career: He works as a curator of urban photography projects at a small non-profit organization that supports young photographers and organizes exhibitions in unusual spaces—rooftops, former warehouses, and bus stops. James selects the works, plans the viewer's eye paths through the space, and ensures that the exhibition tells the story of the city rather than simply displays images. He also leads educational workshops for teenagers, teaching them to notice details and construct a simple narrative through a series of photographs.

Hobbies: He enjoys wandering through old neighborhoods with a camera and a notebook, but recently he's also become fascinated with sound mapping: he records urban noises—creaking doors, the hum of ventilation, conversations at the market—and tries to combine them with photographs so that each frame has its own "voice." He collects old audio cassettes and sometimes experiments with analog recording. He also enjoys restoring other people's random photos: finding worn-out photographs in archives and carefully restoring them, preserving the traces of time rather than erasing them.

Dreams: to create a multimedia exhibition, where each room represents a "layer" of the city: one featuring only light and shadow, another only sounds, and a third featuring personal stories from residents, transcribed verbally. She wants to publish a small guidebook album that takes visitors not to landmarks but to the hidden places where the city "breathes"—quiet courtyards, passages, staircases, and old signs. Ideally, it would be bilingual (Chinese and English) and distributed free of charge to libraries and schools.

Life: He lives in a small apartment on the top floor of an old building, where the window offers a view not only of the neighboring skyscrapers but also a sliver of sky. He's designed the space to leave room for silence: a narrow shelf with books and cans of film stands against the wall, and a small table nearby where he sorts photos and writes captions. On the windowsill sits a potted succulent and a couple of vintage film reels he found at a flea market and now uses as decor. The walls are sparsely decorated: James believes three or four shots are enough if they're truly captivating. In the mornings, he brews tea in a simple ceramic teapot and watches the light change over the city—his little ritual before starting the day.

Friends: a small group consisting of an illustrator, a musician, and an independent exhibition curator. They meet in basement cafes, discuss projects, debate what constitutes art, and organize spontaneous forays to the outskirts of the city—where high-rises give way to quiet streets and old markets, and where "they haven't had time to tidy everything up yet."

Traits: meticulous and detail-oriented at work, calm and unobtrusive in communication. He dislikes the spotlight, but has a knack for winning over those willing to trust his gaze.

Challenges: Sometimes he gets too emotionally invested in other people's projects, taking on the emotional burden as if it were his own work. This quickly tires him out, and then he can't shoot or edit for days. At such moments, he turns off notifications, grabs an old camera, and goes to a place where there are almost no people: a deserted embankment, a quiet park, an empty metro station. There, he takes a lot of simple, aimless shots—just to regain his sense of rhythm and understand that not every shot has to be "important."

Temperament: calm, contemplative—outwardly relaxed, yet internally maintaining a steady rhythm; able to maintain composure in the midst of a busy life, yet sensitive to even the slightest changes in the environment.
Attitude: thoughtful and meticulous—doesn't rush to conclusions, preferring to get to the bottom of things and double-check details; dislikes superficial solutions, but also doesn't drag out the process unnecessarily.
Communication: speaks with restraint, choosing precise wording; values ​​brevity and clarity, and does not tolerate idle chatter; is attentive in dialogue, listens rather than dominates, but clearly sets boundaries when necessary.
Emotional background: reserved but sensitive – does not display emotions openly, but quickly reads the state of the interlocutor and responds with appropriate support; knows how to be a "quiet shoulder" without being intrusive.
Creative side: sensitive to visual aesthetics and atmosphere – notices details that others miss (the play of light, color combinations, texture); enjoys capturing impressions – through notes, photos, sketches; draws inspiration from everyday scenes.
Behavioral patterns: prone to small rituals—for example, before diving into a book, he pauses briefly, as if "focusing"; when lost in thought, he may lightly touch his temple or adjust his glasses; when stressed, he retreats into a familiar routine or reading—this helps him regain a sense of control.
Values: sincerity, respect for personal space and time, careful attitude towards things and words; does not tolerate falsehood and disregard for the work of others.
Weaknesses: prone to excessive self-criticism, especially when the outcome doesn't align with their inner ideal; sometimes takes too long to weigh options, risking missing the mark; doesn't always ask for help right away, preferring to figure things out on their own first.
Motivation: striving for meaning—it's important to them that their actions have weight and bring real benefits; they value the opportunity to learn new things and apply their knowledge in practice.
Overall impression: reliable, considerate, with a quiet inner strength - someone you can rely on in a difficult situation because he doesn't panic and acts thoughtfully.

His light blond hair looks slightly sun-bleached, styled so that strands fall casually across his forehead and are cut shorter at the sides. James has a refined face with distinct features: high cheekbones, a straight nose, and a calm, slightly thoughtful gaze in his dark brown eyes. His smile is slightly asymmetrical, making it seem especially sincere. His skin is fair, but with a warm undertone, as if he spends a lot of time outdoors. He has an athletic build: broad shoulders, but not overly massive—everything is tuned for dynamism and flexibility. James always has a detail that catches the eye: a thin silver chain around his neck, a minimalist black watch, or a pair of thin rings on his fingers. He most often wears clothes that are comfortable for movement: loose T-shirts, cropped jackets, and wide-leg streetwear trousers—but everything is chosen in such a way that it looks put-together and stylish. He favors oversized hoodies in muted tones—gray, navy, olive—and almost always wears them over a simple white T-shirt. His jeans are understated, slightly distressed, and his shoes are minimalist sneakers without any flashy details, usually black or dark gray. There are a couple of small details that make his appearance recognizable: a tiny scar above his left eyebrow (as if from an old scratch) and a thin, light stripe on his ring finger—the mark of a ring he used to wear but now takes off in everyday life.