A KALTBLUT exclusive by Jessica Chea, a Cambodian-American photographer based in Los Angeles, CA. With a background in cinema, Jessica’s photography unfolds as chopped-up cinematic stills, transforming personal and collective narratives into visual tales that strike a delicate balance between chaos and grace. Through a fresh lens that embraces the essence of complexity, she captures her own perspective/knowledge/understanding of this world, offering space for reflection. You, the viewer, are invited to join the conversation.
This editorial, “YOU VANISHED,” captures a feeling kept and embodied by the subject before you. Without self-concern, they look at you with spellbinding curiosity. It’s always about you… and never about them. They, she, he, it crouches, stands, crawls, lies, laughs there, still… thinking about… you. The imagery resembles one who is in different stages of thought and emotion, holding their own perception of reality that is completely unknown to us. The seen and unseen interplay in silent dialogue, understood by those willing to participate in the discussion. And by recognising the image in front of you, a definite connection is made.
“YOU VANISHED.” is excerpt 2 in the interactive, psychological photo/video series, “YOU…” imagined by Jessica. The series explores variations of obsession and abandonment, sentiments that are timeless, rooted in human nature— yet, in contemporary discourse, there is a growing openness to discussing mental health, allowing for more constructive conversations about the fluctuations of our emotional states.
Photography by Jessica Chea / www.jessicachea.co / Instagram: @jessicachea
Model is Shelby Ezell signed at Photogenics / Instagram: @shelby.pezell / @PhotogenicsLA
Make Up by Helen Hu / Instagram: @helenhuhateclub
Stylists are Violet Kim and Eddie Borba / Instagram: @_se.eunn / @e.m.borba
Hair by Drea Aporto / Instagram: @bobakittydre
Photography Assistance by Alexandra Pillsbury / Instagram: @alexandrapillsbury
Production Assistance by Cindy My / Instagram: @cindytmy
Brands used are: H&M and the stylist’s own
@hm
