What I Saw, What Saw Me

What I Saw, What Saw Me by Zoe Zhao developed from her experience travelling alone in Iraq as a woman. While moving through unfamiliar and high-risk environments, she became acutely aware of her own body. She began to notice how it was watched, interpreted, and placed under pressure. The publication is composed of photographs and short notes, and is structured as a body-centred work rather than a documentary or travel account.

The zine is bilingual. English text is printed directly onto the spreads, while Chinese text appears as inserted, pasted pages layered into the book. These additions function as material and bodily interventions rather than direct translations.

Each copy is fully handmade and bound using Coptic stitching, allowing the book to open flat. The pages are individually hand-aged, creating slight variations across the edition.