Following bloodlines

American photographer Taryn Simon has turned her lens on families, traveling across continents to capture the invisible ties that bind. Chen Nan discovers why the artist is drawn to challenging projects.

'In Uttar Pradesh, India, land provides the primary source of income for most residents. Exponential population growth, property shortages, and repeated subdivision have heightened competition for land. Records officials are frequently bribed to have living people declared dead in order to redirect the hereditary transfer of land to new owners. These bribes commonly range from 45 to 2,250 INR ($1-50)."

These are the words American artist Taryn Simon wrote next to 23 photos she took on a visit to India four years ago.