Bodies of work

"Ordinary people may experience some anxiety when viewing real specimens, but they tend to be much calmer when looking at photographs of them," Zhao says.

She has made major contributions to the Mysteries of Life book series that won second prize of the State Scientific and Technological Progress Award in 2018.

Sui Hongjin, who hosted the book project, was impressed by Zhao's energy during their cooperation.

After all, it was a challenge, even for many physically strong men, to be in contact with severed limbs and arms on a daily basis, constantly moving and arranging them, says Sui, who is director of the Department of Anatomy at the College of Basic Medical Sciences with the Dalian Medical University.

"Throughout our collaboration, there were numerous instances that made me appreciate her diligence, resilience and refusal to give up," Sui says.

At that time, the photography studio was located in a rural farmhouse courtyard with extremely basic conditions.

"During the winter, there was no heating facility, and Zhao Xin would wear an oversized military coat, tirelessly climbing and moving around the shelves every day to take photos, dedicated and without any complaints," Sui says.

In his opinion, the camera can not only document the work of anatomists, but also touch the hearts of viewers in the way human specimens are presented.

"The fusion of art and anatomy removes the sense of cold detachment," Sui says.

He says he appreciates Zhao's unique artistic perspective and is impressed by the sense of life that her works evoke.

"Through Zhao's lens, those familiar plasticized specimens seem to be endowed with vitality. They appear vivid and fully showcase the wonders of life, truly attaining another level of eternal existence in the most profound sense," Sui says.