One of the most interesting stories to unfold in photography is probably the remarkable work of Vivian Maier. The nanny-turned-photographer left an incredible amount of eye-catching images, shocking even professional photographers. But people know little about her life and motives. Now an exhibition in Beijing is bringing a selection of her self portraits to Chinese audiences for the first time. 

Hidden Genius: Finding Vivian Maier at the Today Art Museum in Beijing offers a glimpse at this mysterious artist.

Vivian Maier was born in New York in 1926. 

She worked for four decades as a nanny but, in private, she enjoyed being a street photographer. 

Her photographic work was not discovered until after her death when a box of negatives was offered for sale at a local auction. 

She captured scenes of primarily Chicago, where she worked for decades, as well as New York and Los Angeles. 

Zhang Ran, director of Today Art Museum, who co-curated the exhibition, told CGTN: "Vivian Maier left over 150,000 negatives over her life working as a nanny, but only five percent of them were developed. We're honored to work with curator Anne Morin to bring a selection of 83 of Maier's works and nine super eight-mm films, so visitors can interpret her works and unravel the mysteries of her life."

The photos on display focus exclusively on the theme of Maier's search for identity. 

Her visual vocabulary ranges from the most elementary form of self-representation, which is the silhouette, to the physiognomic self-portrait in which we recognize her face. 

Zhang Ran also said that in Maier's self portraits she was not trying to find the perfect angle to show her features. "For her, taking photos was not just a way of documenting life, but a spiritual pursuit, a continuation of her life. She looked for different reflective mediums like mirrors or shop windows for her self-portraits," she added.

Apart from photos and film recordings, the museum has also incorporated art installations and real settings inspired by Maier's works, offering a more immersive experience. 

The exhibition also offers audio guide and screenings of a documentary on Vivian Maier. 

The display runs through June 30.