Born and raised in Urumqi, Xinjiang, Ma Hailun moved to New York at the age of 18 to study fashion photography at the School of Visual Arts. Though geographically distant, Urumqi and New York share an unexpected connection in her eyes. Brooklyn, where she later lived, is shaped by the convergence of people from diverse cultural backgrounds, while Xinjiang, situated at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, has likewise cultivated a pluralistic and interconnected cultural landscape.

These two places mark the most formative chapters of Ma’s life and continue to shape her artistic practice. Drawing on her personal experiences and deep attachment to her hometown, she uses fashion photography to document contemporary Xinjiang. This body of work displayed in this book was named Üruklyn, a title that fuses “Urumqi” and “Brooklyn,” symbolically linking the two places that have defined her identity.

Through Üruklyn, Ma seeks to broaden perceptions of contemporary Xinjiang. Rather than focusing solely on its iconic landscapes, the project turns its attention to people, lifestyles, and spaces that reveal the region’s complexity, diversity, and vitality. By foregrounding everyday life, she invites viewers to encounter Xinjiang beyond familiar stereotypes and romanticized imagery.

At the same time, Üruklyn speaks to those who call Xinjiang home. Through her photographs, Ma hopes they can rediscover the familiar with fresh eyes and recognize the beauty and significance embedded in their everyday surroundings.

Ma Hailun: Üruklyn (First Edition)
Publisher: JZZP
Size: 21.6 × 28.3 cm
Language: Chinese, English
Page count: 180 pages
Manufacturing: Flexi Cover, Offset Printing, Silkscreen
ISBN: 978–88–6749–693–8

Ma Hailun – Uruklyn