A personal project by London-based photographer Kaiwei Duan. Duan was born in China and is currently studying Fashion Image at Central Saint Martins. Her practice is rooted in her experiences as a woman and reflections on childhood, often explored through abstract and dreamlike imagery. Recent projects use bodily details, tactile sensations, and unconventional light to investigate the subtle connections between vision and the senses. “Don’t Leave Me” is dedicated to Duan’s grandmother, whose strength, independence, and tenderness had a profound impact on Duan’s life until a sudden illness left her grandmother physically and emotionally fragile:

“For the past five years, she lived in fear of separation and death. This turning point prompted me to reflect on family, life, and mortality. Until she passed away last year, I kept documenting her through my camera, striving to preserve our shared memories—the gaze she gave me and the feeling of her touch, and the childhood she spent by my side.”

Kaiwei Duan participated in our 2025 Booooooom Art & Photo Book Award and made our shortlist.