false 333874 1 The Chinese believe an unseen red thread joins those in this life who are destined to connect. For photographer Richard Bowen, that thread led him to China's state-run welfare institutions, where there are thousands of children, primarily girls, growing up without families to take care of them. <i>Mei Mei</i> presents a poignant glimpse of just a few of these remarkable children. Composed against neutral backgrounds, these portraits capture the girls inner lives, away from their often bleak surroundings. The images show an almost endless range of expressions: small faces filled with longing and hope, joy and sadness, humor and mischief, defiance and despair. Through the camera's eye these young children are no longer orphans, but individuals whose personalities are as vital, distinct, and beautiful as any mother's child. When that unique human being comes into focus, the connection is made and the red thread becomes visible. And once seen, the bond can never be broken. 324371 21 7 2005 Mei MeiùLittle Sister: Portraits from a Chinese Orphanage total:11|5:8|4:3| 11 52 21 2 5 0 false false Sun Oct 19 10:06:55 -0700 2008 Sun Oct 19 10:20:20 -0700 2008 more...]]> 5 0 false false Sun Oct 21 21:13:52 -0700 2007 Sun Oct 21 21:15:40 -0700 2007 0 0 false false Sun Nov 01 16:44:56 -0800 2009 Sun Nov 01 16:44:56 -0800 2009 0 0 false false Sun Aug 16 17:27:23 -0700 2009 Sun Aug 16 17:27:25 -0700 2009 0 0 false false Sun Jul 05 17:28:32 -0700 2009 Sun Jul 05 17:28:32 -0700 2009 0 0 false false Thu Apr 02 13:43:49 -0700 2009 Thu Apr 02 13:43:49 -0700 2009 0 0 false false Fri Jan 30 12:48:27 -0800 2009 Fri Jan 30 12:48:27 -0800 2009 0 0 false false Tue Jan 27 18:53:49 -0800 2009 Tue Jan 27 18:53:49 -0800 2009 0 0 false false Tue Nov 18 07:37:59 -0800 2008 Fri Mar 06 12:18:42 -0800 2009 0 0 false false Fri Jun 27 16:48:26 -0700 2008 Fri Jun 27 16:48:26 -0700 2008 4 0 false false Mon Jun 09 12:28:48 -0700 2008 Mon Jun 09 12:28:48 -0700 2008 4 0 false false Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2007 Fri Apr 25 19:17:20 -0700 2008 Fri Apr 25 19:17:37 -0700 2008 5 0 false false Mon Mar 10 21:43:36 -0700 2008 Mon Mar 10 21:43:36 -0700 2008 5 0 false false Thu Mar 26 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Wed Feb 27 12:45:35 -0800 2008 Fri Mar 27 15:46:54 -0700 2009 0 0 false false Mon Jan 28 22:40:58 -0800 2008 Wed Apr 30 15:05:44 -0700 2008 5 0 false false Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2008 Sun Jan 27 13:33:02 -0800 2008 Sun Jan 27 13:33:23 -0800 2008 0 0 false false Thu Nov 29 08:30:12 -0800 2007 Thu Nov 29 08:30:20 -0800 2007 5 0 false false Sat Nov 24 20:58:48 -0800 2007 Sat Nov 24 20:58:48 -0800 2007 5 0 false false Fri Aug 17 13:45:52 -0700 2007 Fri Aug 17 13:45:52 -0700 2007 4 0 false false Tue Apr 24 11:45:38 -0700 2007 Tue Apr 24 11:45:38 -0700 2007 http://www.goodreads.com/book_link/follow/8?book_id=333874