Liao’s photography aims to reframe the way society perceives “gender” and “nudity” as often covered by modern-day media. By shooting it from a whole new camera angle reversing society’s appointed roles of the sexes.
The Backdrop
Liao is a recipient of NYFA Fellowship in photography, Santo Foundation Individual Artist Awards, Jimei x Arles International Photo Festival Madame Figaro Women Photographers Award, En Foco’s New Works Fellowship, and LensCulture Exposure Awards.
She has done artist residencies at the University of Arts London, School of Visual Arts RISO Lab, Pioneer Works, Light Work, Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, Center for Photography at Woodstock, and Camera Club of New York.
The Experiment
Liao is mostly known for her series “Experimental Relationship,” depicting the artist with her Japanese boyfriend, Moro — five years her junior.
The idea behind the series was to explore what happens if a man and woman exchange their assigned roles of sex and superiority, leaving behind any existing preconceptions. A deconstruction of China’s immovable gender and power roles, one might even argue.
The elaborate photography project challenges gender norms in regard to media and sexual expression. Moro is often depicted in the nude, but non-pixelated censorship applies through the clever use of posture mainly used by female models and actresses.
The Exhibition
Liao has participated in exhibitions and performances in institutions internationally, including the UCCA Center for Contemporary Art (Beijing, China); He Xiangning Art Museum (Shenzhen, China); the Museum of Sex (New York, USA); Asia Society (Houston, USA); Open Eye Gallery (Liverpool, UK); Chambers Fine Art (NY); Leo Xu Projects (Shanghai, China); and Firstdraft Gallery (Sydney, Australia), etc.
And now on display inside ANtwerp’s Stieglitz19 gallery:
Pixy Liao
Experimental Relationship
February 9, 2020 – March 14, 2020
@
STIEGLITZ 19
Klapdorp 2 – Antwerpen 2000
TEL: + 32 495 51 57 77
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Challenge society. Challenge yourself. Challenge.
China Under The Radar 