Wenxiao Elsa Liu
My initial interest in illusion and reality in aesthetics, and the belief in Pierre-Auguste Renoir’s words – “Why shouldn’t art be beautiful? There are enough unpleasant things in the world” (Kohl & Solga 1997, p. 45) and “The pain passes, but the beauty remains” (Cowell 2010, p. 299) – has guided me throughout the creation of my works.
Staged photography is my medium of expression. This photographic project incorporates the still life of natural and artificial objects within a staged framework. I have used this process to enforce photography's role as an artistic medium, exploring my interest in the shifting relationship between illusion and reality through the expression of beauty and aesthetics. I have also combined it with the genre of self-portraiture, focusing on the use of reflection, subtly coloured lighting and visual contradictions of real and hybrid objects in order to build an imaginary world. This project has used beauty and aesthetics by incorporating still life of natural and artificial objects to create a world beyond everyday reality, one that combines the human spirit with the wonderment of nature.
Furthermore, my sensitive personality and perfectionism often lead me to be overwhelmed by bad things that trap me in a deep depression. My character is able to be observant in daily life and be healed by observing and immersing myself in the subtleties of daily objects in my own perspective. The photographs have created, in a subtle and elegant way, a representation of my sensitive personality and perfectionism which is emotional and irrational.
Due to the travel restrictions caused by the novel Coronavirus, I studied in Australia and lived in China to create my major project. As an influence of this situation, I photographed seasonal fruit and vegetables to explore my lived and imaginary relationships with the natural world and record how the environment in China affects me.
Kohl, MAF & Solga, K 1997, Discovering Great Artists: Hands-On Art for Children in the Styles of the Great Masters, Bright Ring Publishing, Bellingham, Washington
Cowell, S 2010, Claude & Camille: A Novel of Monet, Crown Publishing, New York
Blur, 2020
Photography
What is This, 2020
Photography
Grow Up, 2020
Photography
Inside or Outside, 2020
Photography
Dawn Light, 2020
Photography
Dependence, 2020
Photography
Periscope, 2020
Photography
Double World, 2020
Photography