Pixy Liao was a graphic designer and then she discovered photography. The most important stage in her artistic journey was when she turned the camera on herself. To her life and her relationship. She played with the filters of the domestic, changed gender roles, experienced the sincerity of the image, exploring relational possibilities. In this last intimacy, her images actually speak of dangerous social clichés.
Her series of photography are exhibited for the first time in Romania in the exhibition "The woman who clicks the shutter", which can be seen at 2/3 galeria.
”In the beginning, I just thought photography is a skill to make money. I didn’t think that I was going to become an artist. I thought I was going to learn how to make a good photograph. Now I think photography is just a medium that I use to make artwork”, says Pixy.
Pixy Liao was born and raised in Shanghai and now she lives in Brooklyn, NY. We talked to her about the present day, where everyone is taking pictures, the mission of creators in 2023 and how she turned her relationship with her partner into art.
Important moments
I think that would be around the time that I started making self-portraits with my partner. In the very beginning when I was just trying it out, my teacher Larry Jasud one day called me to his office. He said, Pixy, why don’t you title your artwork as if they were relationship tips from a lifestyle magazine? He understood what I was doing and gave me precious advice that I remembered by heart 'til today.
I would call the whole time while I was studying photography in the US "self-discovery". A time to get to know myself finally.
Photo Credit: 2/3 galeria
The relationship with photography
I used to be a graphic designer. As a graphic designer, I use photos in my work. So I “collected” many photos digitally. Also, I wasn’t happy with my design job, because the clients always wanted to change my creative work. I watched the film “Blow-up” by Michelangelo Antonioni and wished I could have free creative control like the photographer in the film. Then I decided to study photography and changed my career.
What mattered the most in your training
That I tried out many different things and found the one thing that I truly want to do and enjoy doing in art.
Photo Credit: Pixy Liao
What changed with experience
Yes, it’s completely changed. In the beginning, I just thought photography is a skill to make money. I didn’t think that I was going to become an artist. I thought I was going to learn how to make a good photograph. Now I think photography is just a medium that I use to make artwork. It’s the same as other mediums like painting or sculpture. The most important thing is definitely not about how to make one good photo, but how you make artwork through a series of photographs.
Photo Credit: 2/3 galeria
How do you feel when you look at your older photos
When I was still in school, my other teacher told me, “These photos, no matter what you took, you would be very happy to see them in the future.” And she is right. A lot of photos I didn’t like them back then, thinking I didn’t look good in certain photos. When I look back years later, those thoughts are gone. I see our younger selves and I’m happy that we took so many photos together over the years.
The change in gender roles
It started with my new relationship with my partner Moro. He has always been supportive of whatever weird ideas I have for my photos. And soon I realized that it’s not the ideas of my other photos that are interesting. It’s our relationship itself that is interesting. Once I realized that I turned the camera towards us and I found what really excites me in photography, the possibilities that I can create together with Moro.
Photo Credit: 2/3 galeria
The most dangerous clichés
I think any fixed roles in a relationship will be boring. For a healthy and continuing relationship, we all need to be flexible and role-changing from time to time.
What do you hope that people who visit your exhibition in Romania will leave with
A conversation starter about their own relationship or their ideas on relationships.
Photo Credit: 2/3 galeria
How do you feel about the present day, in which everyone takes pictures?
I think it’s a good trend. I understand the benefits of constantly photographing over the years. It’s a visual memory that you would appreciate when you look back. I do get tired of seeing too many photos on social media. But it has also become a challenging game to find the one image that would still attract you. Whenever I find one, I feel so satisfied.
Tthe biggest challenges of society in 2023, from the perspective of a creator
Find a pace that we can continue with our lives. I have a fear that we have wasted 2- 3 years that I wanted to make up for. We should all try to let more good things happen.
Does the mission of the creators change in any way?
In a way, it never changes. I think creators should just live their life first. And life will influence their work. It always has been. I think some of the greatest art was created during difficult times.
The past 3 years have been difficult for me and I believe for most people. Everyone suffers, due to the pandemic, the conflicts in the world, etc. It made me want something really simple in life, a peaceful life, a healthy family, and a good mood. And I hope people can connect with each other again like before. Go out, see your friends, and family, meeting new people. We need connections with each other.
