About
Born in China and based in the UK, Chrystal is a research-led artist and writer who works with photography, text, personal archives, and machine learning to explore the impact of past (trauma) and future (technological advancement) on identity.
Chrystal read English at the University of Cambridge, and holds an MA in Photojournalism & Documentary Photography from London College of Communication (University of the Arts London).
Her work focuses on the intersections of science, culture, and the individual, and has been published by the BBC, The Guardian, The Telegraph, the Royal Photographic Society Contemporary Photography Journal, and PHmuseum. She was one of 209 female photographers selected to contribute a portrait to the ‘209 Women’ project in 2018, commemorating 100 years since women got the vote. In 2019 she was awarded the Rebecca Vassie Memorial Award for her work Yours is Going to Be Healed As Well about genocide survivors in Rwanda taking part in group counselling.
From 2017-2019 she worked with the Wellcome Genome Campus to produce Genetopia, a self-published book about 23 people who had done DNA tests and an exploration into what genetic testing means for the individual. In 2018 she co-founded Ixy Labs, a pop-science research and discussion series about private life in the time of AI.
She is currently working as Lead Writer at Larian Studios.
Exhibitions
INSIDE/The Exhibition, PHmuseum Lab, 2021
Uno, Nessuno, Centomila, Electric Artefacts (curated by Umanesimo Artificiale), 2021
Empowering People: Genetic Counselling in Focus, Wellcome Genome Campus 2019-2020
Genetopia (permanent display at Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton), 2019
209 Women, 2018
“Dyadic”, LCC Degree Show, 2018
12 Stanley Street at Offprint London 2017
Publications
Inside - PHmuseum
The Mays XX
ZINE 2010, Issue 3 (The Cambridge Student)
Royal Photographic Society Contemporary Photography Journal, Autumn 2017
Awards & Honours
The Foto Awards 2022 (Winner, Self-Expression Award)
Rebecca Vassie Memorial Award 2019 (Winner)
ESPY Photo Award Book Prize 2017 (Shortlist)
IdeasTap 16-25 Photographic Award with Magnum Photos 2013 (Shortlist)