This article originally appeared on VICE US. This spring, VICE partnered with Fotografiska New York to present New Visions, an exhibition showcasing 14 emerging photographers from around the world who are changing the way we see. To highlight the work beyond the museum, we asked 14 of our favorite, fresh voices in culture to respond to the photos in writing. Here, prolific film critic Kristen Yoonsoo Kim reflects on the work of Chengdu, China-born photographer Yuan Yao. Read more from the New Visions series here, and learn how to visit the show at Fotografiska New York here.

My Korean mother is the most gentle person I know. She is exceptionally sweet and even-tempered—someone whose patience rarely wears thin. My mother used to tell me that she had a hard time scolding me because I would be harder on myself than she could be on me. She would delight in my As, but would comfort me if I got Cs. To this day, no one quells my fears and anxieties like she does.