The jury's decision spoke volumes about the mission of the photography award. 

"The Three Shadows Photography Award, arguably one of the few professional photography awards in the country, not only emphasizes the innovation and cutting-edge topics of photographic art but also considers the interdisciplinary development between photography and contemporary art," Dong said.

Instituted in 2008, a year after the art centre, one of the first contemporary art spaces dedicated exclusively to photography in China, the Three Shadows Photography Award is an annual program open to Chinese creators of all ages around the world. 

Intending to select artists and works with independent spirit and artistic potential from the emerging trends in photographic art, research, and promote contemporary Chinese photography, the award, since its establishment, has attracted nearly 7,000 submissions and introduced more than 200 upcoming photographers and artists as finalists.