Linlin Zhao, Fading Like a Flower (PEOPLE 2026)

Watching my mum age with dementia is heartbreaking. I grieve not only the person I am losing, but also the moments, memories, and conversations that slip away before I can hold onto them. Every time I see her, Roxette’s song echoes in my mind. Using the photos of her in her youth and old age, I created this series of images to showcase the sad and painful transformation in life: Fading like a flower.

Images have been resized for web display, which may cause some loss of image quality. Note: Original high-resolution images are used for judging.