Alchemy of the Unknowns

Collaboration with James David Tabor

In a world that feels increasingly rudderless, one may easily succumb to cynicism in the erosion of trust. Our experimental project is an attempt to hold on to earnestness and tangibility.

We were strangers within a worldwide community of Holga afficionados. With very different geographical environments and upbringing, we find common ground in our analog photography and aspirations for a Daoist way to live. In the spring of 2023, we began our conceptual project in ”film swaps,” the practice of having one photographer first expose images on an entire roll of film and mail it to another, who would then photograph the same film again from the beginning. We don’t tell each other what we have photographed exactly. The results are all surprises.

With already over 20 rolls of film exchanged, we made many mistakes and had many disagreements. Our mutual respect for each other’s work keeps the project going. It started with a belief in America. As time went on, it became a way for us to maintain our hope in humanity.

––Lisa Tang Liu, Massachusetts and James David Tabor, Arizona

Photo book available here.

Project Instagram page.