UPCOMING EXHIBITION

Nowhere Land

Jiatong Lu

In a new presentation of her ongoing project Nowhere Land, artist Jiatong Lu brings together photography, archival documents, personal testimony, and scientific research to examine the human toll of Lyme disease and the medical systems responsible for diagnosing and treating it. While centered on Lyme disease, the exhibition engages broader themes of diagnosis, chronic illness, and quality of care, speaking to larger systemic issues within the healthcare system.

The project began following Lu’s experience with Lyme disease in 2021, which left her severely ill for an extended period. Through conversations with others experiencing persistent symptoms, she began documenting the physical, psychological, social, and financial consequences of illness, particularly for patients struggling to obtain recognition and care.

What began as a documentary project has evolved into a broader investigation of the history, ecology, and contested medical understanding of Lyme disease. Lu conducted research in Lyme, Connecticut, where the disease was first identified in the United States in the 1970s, examining historical records and the advocacy of patients such as Polly Murray, whose efforts helped bring an unexplained cluster of illnesses to medical attention.

Lu also accompanied researchers at the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies in Millbrook, New York, whose long-running investigations examine the relationship between ticks, wildlife, environmental conditions, and disease transmission.

At BAXTER ST, Lu presents three intersecting threads of inquiry: archival documents tracing early diagnoses in Lyme, Connecticut, and examining how medical and public debates surrounding Lyme disease have evolved over time; field research conducted with ecologists at the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies; and patient-supplied records. An installation of approximately 1,767 pages from a single insurance appeal illustrates the bureaucratic weight of chronic illness.

Lu’s portraits emphasize the dignity and individuality of her subjects rather than reducing them to their illness. Personal journals, social media posts, and medical records accompany the photographs, allowing patients to participate in telling their own stories and documenting their efforts to obtain care.

ABOUT JIATONG LU

Jiatong Lu is a visual artist born and raised in Northwest China and based in New York. Working across photography, video, installation, and archives, her practice examines personal and collective trauma, social inequality, and the experiences of marginalized individuals. She holds an MFA in Photography, Video, and Related Media from the School of Visual Arts. Her work has been exhibited internationally and recognized by the Alexia Vision Grant, NYFA, and LensCulture. Lu is a recipient of BAXTER ST’s 2026 Mid-Career Lens-Based Artist Initiative, supported by the Mellon Foundation.