Happy Valentine's Day

Relationships work best when each partner knows their proper place © Yijun (Pixy) Liao

Please re-visit our conversation with Yijun (Pixy) Liao, by clicking here.

A Conversation with Yijun (Pixy) Liao

Yijun (Pixy) Liao, originally from Shanghai, China, chose fine art photography for its freedom from commercial obligations of working previously as a graphic designer. Her "Experimental Relationship" series focuses on the performative tension of ethnic and age differences between herself and her boyfriend, Moro, a Japanese student five years younger than Pixy. The stereotypical roles placed on heterosexual couples are a conflict for this series and confront such issues.


Relationships work best when each partner knows their proper place, © Yijun (Pixy) Liao

As a woman, I used to think I can only fall in love with someone that I adore, who is maturer than me, older than me, a protector, a mentor. Then I met my boyfriend, Moro, who is 5 years younger than me. I felt the whole relationship changed all the way around. I become the person who had more authority and power. When I told my male friend about my new relationship, he said, "How could you choose a boyfriend the way we choose a girlfriend?!" I thought "Damn right. That's exactly what I'm doing, but why not?!"

Nymphoto: Tell us a little about yourself.

Yijun (Pixy) Liao: I grew up in Shanghai, China. I have a bachelor degree in educational technology which I had no interest in at all. So I spent most of my time playing around with Photoshop. After graduation, I became a graphic designer. After 3 years of freelance work, I was so fed up with my clients & decided to go abroad & study some other major that I'm truly interested in. I applied for graphic design & photography at the same time. University of Memphis photo program accepted me. So here I am, 3 years later, finishing up my MFA in photography.


Your lover should always be your best supporter, © Yijun (Pixy) Liao

I have always doubted the stereotype of a man-woman relationship. Why should a couple be a man and a woman? Why does man have to be a certain way? Why should woman be a certain way? I feel relationships are far more complicated and always changing, and it has lots of possibilities. So I began to think about the meaning of this relationship and experimented with it.

NP: How did you discover photography?

YPL: When I was a graphic designer, I watched a movie called "Blow-up". It's a story about a photographer's involvement with a murder case. I said to myself, "That's the job I want. It has so much more freedom than being a graphic designer." (The photographer in the movie simply walked out his studio in the middle of the shoot, because he's bored with the models.)


Intimacy will improve your relationship, © Yijun (Pixy) Liao

I also express my frustrations in a relationship, like the impossibility to find a soul-mate, the feeling of isolation and disconnection; because my boyfriend is Japanese, and I am Chinese. The project sometimes also describes a love and hate relationship.

This project is an experiment to me, not a real document of our real relationship.

NP: Where do you find inspiration?

YPL: I guess from everything I experience in daily life and I mix them up in my daydreams.
Before I fall asleep, I lie on my bed, half-asleep, half-awake, and all my ideas will come to me at that time.

NP: How did this project come about?

YPL: Moro, my boyfriend, is my muse for this project.
The project began after I dated him for one year. I met Moro in Memphis. He is Japanese and 5 years younger than me. The experience of culture shock and age difference within this relationship inspired me.


How to build a relationship with layered meanings, © Yijun (Pixy) Liao

NP: What difficulties did you encounter while working on this series?

YPL: Sometimes, Moro is not willing to work with me. He'll pull a long face & complain about being used. But I'll manage to take the pictures anyway.


Food and nature are two secrets to a successful relationship, © Yijun (Pixy) Liao

NP: What's next?

YPL: I just moved to Brooklyn & reunited with my boyfriend. (He graduated & moved half year before me.) I’m excited about continuing with this project and adding my new insights about relationship.

NP: Thank you, Pixy!

Yijun (Pixy) Liao is currently a Hey, Hot Shot! for the Fall 2008 edition. Her other series, "Stills from Unseen Films," will be presented in a group show at Jen Bekman Gallery starting January 30, 2009.

Also, happy holidays from all of us at Nymphoto!

Congrats to Hey, Hot Shots!

Your lover should always be your best supporter, © Yijun (Pixy) Liao

The new crop of Hot Shots from the Jen Bekman Gallery were officially announced yesterday. Congrats to Yijun (Pixy) Liao and Cara Phillips to be among the five winners! I have conversed with Pixy through emails just by randomly seeing her work on Flickr and noticed we had mutual friends. She agreed to participate in a Nymphoto Conversation which will be published on Christmas Eve's Eve, December 23rd, featuring her project, Experimental Relationship.

The opening reception of the Hey, Hot Shot! (volume iv, edition ii) Showcase will be on Friday, January 30th, 2009, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Jen Bekman Gallery @ 6 Spring Street, NYC. Work will be on view until Saturday, February 14th, 2009.