You In My Eyes: A Story of Awakening and Inner Strength

At the World Grand Prix Photography Award Spring 2026, You In My Eyes received the Silver Award in the Mobile Photography category for its emotionally charged exploration of identity, resilience, and transformation.

Created only nine months after returning to society, the work documents not only a visual portrait, but a deeply personal journey of rebirth. Through the collaboration between director and muse, the image becomes a symbol of awakening, trust, and the power of art to transcend social labels.

You In My Eyes  - 賴赫琰 

This artwork focuses on the intimate moment of eye contact, integrating the mystical ancient Egyptian legend of the "Eye of Horus."

In mythology, the Eye of Horus symbolizes sacred omniscient insight to distinguish between truth and illusion, as well as the power of protection and restoration. For me, photography serves as a personal "Eye of Horus." The woman in the image looks back through the viewfinder of a vintage camera, creating a duality of observation. Her exposed eye, akin to the sacred amulet, gazes upon the viewer—not only acknowledging my presence but also perceiving reality beyond the superficial.

The striking monochromatic purple hue drapes the scene in a psychedelic yet divine atmosphere. Through this "eye," the act of capturing a photo transcends mere recording; it becomes a spiritual connection and a gesture of preservation. Through this mechanical soul (the camera), I strive to capture and present the truest, clearest essence of you—transcending time and visible only through intuition and profound insight.

Interview

Q. What inspired you to take this award-winning photo? Is there a story behind the piece you’d like to share?

Lai He-Yan:

My name is Lai He-Yan (Latte). I am a rehabilitated person and a professional director. This award-winning work marks the most incredible milestone in the nine months since my reintegration into society.

After completing a rigorous four-month training program at National Chung Hsing University’s Adobe Film and Video Program, I immediately traveled to Mainland China to serve as an Assistant Director for short dramas, honing my visual storytelling skills in a high-pressure, real-world environment.

My evolution from a lost individual to an internationally recognized director stems from an almost obsessive dedication to imagery.

The protagonist, Tseng Wan-Yu, is my artistic muse and a dear friend who first recognized my dormant talent. This image records “the reborn version of myself seen through her eyes” and serves as proof of the willpower I have exerted to redefine my destiny.

Q：是什麼啟發你拍攝了這張得獎照片？願意分享這幅作品背後的故事嗎？

我是賴赫琰，一名更生人，也是一名導演。這張作品見證了我重返社會九個月來最不可思議的跨越。在國立中興大學 Adobe 影視專班接受四個月的高強度培訓後，我隨即奔赴大陸擔任短劇副導演，在極高壓的實戰環境中磨練影像敘事力。從一名迷惘的更生人，轉變為站上世界舞台的導演，靠的是對影像近乎瘋狂的執著。畫面中的女主角曾婉渝，既是我的「藝術繆思」也是好友，是她看見了我的天賦並鼓勵我投身創作。這張照片記錄了「在她眼中那個重生的我」，以及我用九個月時間向世界證明的意志力。

Q. Were there any challenges during the process of creating this series or image? How did you navigate them?

Lai:

The greatest challenge was navigating the invisible labels society places on rehabilitated individuals. However, through my collaboration with Wan-Yu, we successfully transformed that pressure into art.

As a director, I built a wordless synergy with this muse from Puli, allowing us to focus on the essence of art rather than the shadows of the past.

Q：在創作這個系列或這幅作品的過程中，你有遇到什麼挑戰嗎？你是如何克服的？

最大的挑戰在於如何跨越社會對更生人的標籤。但透過與婉渝的合作，我們成功轉化了這種壓力。身為導演，我與這位來自埔里的繆思女神建立了一種超越文字的默契，讓我們能專注於藝術本質，而非過去的陰霾。

Q. How do you approach the balance between technical skill and emotional/artistic expression in your photography?

Lai:

For me, technology exists to serve the soul.

I use a directorial perspective to construct the narrative of the frame, while Wan-Yu fills it with emotion through her soul as a professional freelance model. We seek the most primal emotional vibrations within a precise composition—this is the perfect intersection of technique and art.

Q：在攝影中，您是如何平衡技術技巧和情感/藝術表現之間的？

對我而言，技術是為了服務靈魂。我運用導演的視角去建構畫面的敘事感，而婉渝則以專業自由模特兒的靈魂去填充情感。我們在精確的構圖中尋找最原始的情緒顫動，這就是技術與藝術最完美的交集。

Q. What message or feeling do you hope your photography conveys to viewers?

Lai:

I want viewers to feel the power of the “Eye of Horus” through this work.

To me, photography is more than capturing an image; it represents awakening, protection, and rebirth. I hope to convey a message of inclusivity and limitless possibilities, showing that even a life that was once broken can still create beauty that resonates with the world.

Q：你希望你的攝影作品向觀眾傳達什麼樣的訊息或感受？

我希望觀眾能透過這件作品感受到「荷魯斯之眼」的力量。攝影不僅是捕捉影像，更代表著覺醒、守護與重生。我希望傳達出一種「包容」與「無限可能」，讓大家看到即便曾破碎過的生命，依然能創造出震懾世界的美。

Q. In your view, what role does photography play in today’s world?

Lai:

In an era of fragmented information, photography should act as an anchor for the true soul.

It is a tool for social reconstruction, allowing the world to peer through superficial labels and see the true value hidden behind ordinary moments or personal struggles.

Q：您認為攝影在現今世界扮演著怎樣的角色？

在資訊碎片化的時代，攝影應該是真實靈魂的錨點。它是一種社會重構的工具，能穿透表象的標籤，讓世人看見隱藏在平凡或低谷背後的真實價值。

Editor’s Note

You In My Eyes stands as more than a portrait—it is a declaration of transformation.

Through intimate collaboration and emotionally driven visual storytelling, Lai He-Yan turns photography into a language of rebirth and human dignity. The work challenges social assumptions surrounding rehabilitation while emphasizing art’s ability to reveal unseen value beneath public labels.

In a time when images are rapidly consumed and forgotten, You In My Eyes restores photography’s emotional and philosophical weight, reminding viewers that visual art can still carry truth, resilience, and the possibility of redemption.

Follow the Artists

Director: Lai He-Yan (Latte)

I am Lai He-Yan (Latte), a director and visual artist from Taichung, Taiwan, and a 2026 WGPPA Silver Award winner. Within just nine months of returning to society, I have proven the possibility of rebirth through intensive learning and creation. My work is centered on the philosophy of the "Eye of Horus," as I am dedicated to reshaping human value through the lens and revealing the truths hidden beneath societal labels.

我是賴赫琰(拿鐵)，一名來自台中的導演與視覺藝術家，也是 2026 年 WGPPA 銀獎得主。在重返社會的短短九個月內，我透過極限的學習與創作證明了重生的可能。我以「荷魯斯之眼」作為我的創作哲學，致力於透過鏡頭重塑生命價值，讓世界看見被標籤掩蓋下的真相。

Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/woow_ata/

Artistic Muse: Tseng Wan-Yu

I am Tseng Wan-Yu, a professional freelance model from Puli. In our photographic works, I serve as the Artistic Muse to Director Lai He-Yan, bringing powerful emotional resonance to interpret each vision. I am passionate about narrative-driven visual creation, believing that every image has the power to tell a soul-stirring story.

我是曾婉渝，一名來自埔里的專業自由模特兒。在攝影作品中，我以「藝術繆思」的身分與導演賴赫琰深度合作，投入極強的情緒感染力來詮釋影像。我熱衷於具備敘事感的視覺創作，相信每一張照片都能說出一個撼動人心的故事。

Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/_zseng/