Artist Feature: Pixy Liao
Born and raised in Shanghai, Pixy Liao is an artist currently residing in New York. Her long-term photo project “Experimental Relationship” challenges conventional ideas of gender dynamics. She also explores female identity in video and sculpture. She has participated in exhibitions and performances internationally, including the Fotografiska, Rencontres d’Arles in Arles, Asia Society, National Gallery of Australia, etc.
Photography by Pixy Liao
Q: Can you share something you learned from creating this work that would resonate with our community?
PL: I created this work based on my long-time doubt about the standard expectation of women I experienced in my life. I made this work as an experiment to see what alternatives I could have. And to my surprise, this experiment is still going on.
Q: Tell us more about your work process. Do you plan the image ahead of time or is it more improvisational?
PL: My photos are mostly staged photos. It usually takes a very long time from an idea to the final photos. An idea can be very simple and abstract, like a word. And then I’ll keep it in the back of my mind until one day I know how to execute the image well. And then I will look for a location, clothing, props, etc, for the photoshoot. The actual photo shoot is usually very short, about half an hour. I do let changes/accidents happen during the photoshoots.
Q: What type of expectations for women and/or women artists are the most frustrating or challenging to you?
PL: Not really apply to me personally, because the topic of my work is from my own woman experience. But a woman artist’s work is usually discussed under the label of a woman artist even if gender does not play a huge part in her work. People always find an angle to enlarge the fact that the artist is a woman. And usually, women artists only have a good chance of exhibiting under the label of woman artist show. Gender becomes a talking point.
Q: You also make music! Tell us more about that journey. Does it overlap with photography in any way?
PL: I have a band with my partner Moro. It’s called PIMO. Our band is actually led by him. Our roles switch when making music. I only sing and sometimes write lyrics. It is a way for me to get to know him better and repay him for his support in my photo project. In our music, we sing about things we both love and it is usually more from his point of view.
Photography by Pixy Liao
Photography by Pixy Liao
Q: What does being a feminist mean to you?
PL: I don’t really consider myself a feminist, but you can say I’m pro-female. I believe feminism is about equality for men and women. It is definitely important to advocate for a healthier society. But that doesn’t mean everything has to be for that purpose, something like art. The intention of my project was just to fulfill my personal desire to see something alternative based on my own experience as a woman. It’s never meant to be something right to do or supposed to do. So the work is not politically correct work. That was never my intention.
Q: Do you have any upcoming projects or exhibitions you want to share with our community?
PL: I currently have a show at Fotografiska in New York. In this show, I designed an installation room that displays my sculpture and video works. The room belongs to a follower of the Evil Women Cult, which is a new conceptual project I have been working on that focuses on the experiences and leadership of women. I imagined this follower living in a room with gender symbolic wallpaper, carpet, and all kinds of weird objects that are meaningful to their beliefs. Everything in the room is very specific.. This is the first time I've shown my photography, video, sculpture, and design work in one coherent exhibition.
Follow @bloodypixy and view more at pixyliao.com
