Mei Mei is a heartwarming, thought-provoking book that offers a poignant glimpse into the lives of Chinese orphans growing up in the country's welfare institutions. Richard Bowen's stunning portraits are composed against neutral backgrounds and capture the unique personalities and emotions of the young girls, revealing them as individuals rather than just orphans. The book's red thread concept provides a beautiful and symbolic representation of the connections that can be formed between people, regardless of background or circumstance. It would be a great read for anyone interested in photography, Chinese culture or social justice.

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The Chinese believe an unseen red thread joins those in this life who are destined to connect. For photographer Richard Bowen, that thread led him to China's state-run welfare institutions, where there are thousands of children, primarily girls, growing up without families to take care of them. Mei Mei presents a poignant glimpse of just a few of these remarkable children. Composed against neutral backgrounds, these portraits capture the girls inner lives, away from their often bleak surroundings. The images show an almost endless range of small faces filled with longing and hope, joy and sadness, humor and mischief, defiance and despair. Through the camera's eye these young children are no longer orphans, but individuals whose personalities are as vital, distinct, and beautiful as any mother's child. When that unique human being comes into focus, the connection is made and the red thread becomes visible. And once seen, the bond can never be broken.

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