Interview | Keke Yang
Keke Yang was born and raised in China and has lived in the U.S. for nine years. Yang holds a BA in Photomedia from University of Washington, and an MFA in Photography at Parsons School of Design in New York. Yang is a conceptual artist whose work is a profound exploration of the fluidity of existence, challenging the boundaries of materiality and perception. Drawing inspiration from the cultural experiences with the fluidity of gender identity, her work manifests these concepts through photography, video, installation, as well as performance.
Yang's work has been showcased in several exhibitions, including the group
exhibition at MC Gallery, Brooklyn Bridge Park, New York(2023); UW Photomedia Art Show, Washington(2021, 2022).
10 Questions with Artist Keke Yang
April 8, 2024
Q1. Your background is diverse with experiences from both China and the U.S. How have these diverse cultural experiences shaped your artistic practice, particularly in relation to exploring the fluidity of gender identity?
Living and creating within diverse cultural contexts has reinforced the importance of empathy in my work. The contrasting societal norms and cultural attitudes towards gender in China and the U.S. have provided me with a broader understanding of how gender identity is constructed and perceived differently across cultures. This has encouraged me to question and critique the rigid gender binaries prevalent in many societies and to explore more fluid and inclusive representations of gender in my work, and I feel it is more important to search for universal human experiences within the fluid nature of identity.
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Q2. Your practice encompasses a range of mediums, such as photography, video, installation, and performance. How do these varied mediums each contribute to conveying the underlying messages in your works?
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Each medium brings its own set of possibilities and limitations, enabling me to engage with the audience on different sensory and emotional levels. Through photography, the stillness of it can convey a powerful sense of introspection and timelessness; video then can offer me the dynamism of time and movement, and through installation, it could engage viewers physically and create immersive environments. However, I see that each medium I use requires performance at a different level.
Q3. Creating a photographic series can be a complex process. Can you share some of the biggest challenges you've faced when producing one of the photo series, and how do you navigate these obstacles to bring your vision to life?
One major challenge was ensuring that the series maintained a clear and cohesive concept that resonated through each piece, which I believe that I can never fully finish writing my statement at one time, it required a deep dive into the thematic essence of the work, continuously refining and revising the idea until it felt both precise and expansive enough to sustain a series. Also, persistence and flexibility were key; sometimes I just need to work out what is in my head, no matter if it seems irrelevant at that time.
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Flowing roots, photography, 40 x 30in., 2023
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Q4. Your pieces Flowing Roots and the In between series delve into themes of transition and liminality. Could you expound on the inspiration and creative process behind these evocative works?
The idea for Flowing Roots began with an exploration of materials that embody the themes of fluidity and interconnectedness. Just as water flows and adapts to its surroundings, and roots intertwine and adapt to their environment, it reflects my personal reflections on identity and belonging. And for In Between, I started to test the boundaries of photographic media and materials, questioning the ways of observation, which I find the common interest of these two is to reconsider the perspectives on identity and existence.
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In between #1, photography, 40 x 30in., 2021
In between #2, photography, 40 x 30in., 2021
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Q5. With your role as a teaching assistant and workshop leader at Parsons School of Design, how has the intersection of teaching and your artistic practice influenced each other?
Critiquing students' work has reinforced the importance of constructive feedback in the creative process. Engaging in dialogues about their work has honed my ability to give and receive critiques, which is valuable in the art field. The exchange of feedback has also enhanced my capacity for critical thinking and helped refine my artistic vision. It has encouraged a deeper level of reflection and self-awareness in my own practice. And their new ideas have invigorated my practice, pushing me to explore different mediums, subjects, and methods I might not have considered otherwise.
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Q6. Your video works, such as Balloon and pin and Water, bag, and walking, intertwine performance elements with concise durations. Could you elaborate on how the performative aspect contributes to the meaning of these pieces, and discuss the conceptual framework behind these pieces and the significance of their brevity?
As I mentioned before, I think performance is rooted in every work of mine. By doing simple actions, it emphasizes the artistic process over the final product, and the blurring of the lines between art and life. My work shares an interest in the mundane and the everyday as a source of artistic exploration. My performances challenge preconceived notions about identity and societal norms. Through performance, I explore themes such as the fluidity of gender and the critique of social structures, using the body as a primary medium to interrogate and express these ideas. It also allows me to capture moments of fleeting beauty or tension, emphasizing the impermanence that characterizes human experience.
Balloon and pin, Video(00:49), 2023
Water, bag, and walking, video (00:56), 2023
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Q7. Your art has graced various venues, from academic exhibitions to public spaces like Brooklyn Bridge Park. How do you tailor the presentation of your work to suit different contexts and sites, and what impact do you aspire to achieve on your audience?
I am grateful for every opportunity I get, and each venue offers unique opportunities and challenges for engagement and interpretation. I feel it’s important to understand the space; each venue has its own architectural and cultural nuances. By tailoring the presentation or choosing different works to fit the context and audience, my aim is to evoke both emotional resonance and intellectual curiosity.
Q8. In your capacity as a campaign photographer for brands like Lola & Veranda and Mona Jewelry, how do you balance the commercial demands of photography with preserving your artistic integrity?
I guess it is hard to really find a balance. However, I find that collaboration is important in these projects. As I see many of my works have elements of playfulness and creation, which can bring a fresh perspective to commercial projects. I look for moments where my style can play a role, whether it’s in the composition, lighting, or the way I direct the shoot. I create work that resonates with both the brand and my artistic principles. This synergy leads to innovative ideas that satisfy both the commercial needs of the brand and my artistic aspirations.
Untitled, installation, steel, plastic, 97 x 27 x 27in.,2023
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Q9. Your installation featuring steel and plastic is a notable large-scale work. What inspired you to explore these materials, and how do they enhance the narrative of your piece?
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As a person who deeply loves to connect with the natural world, my interest in materials extends beyond stones, leaves, and branches to every interesting daily object. In my work, I love to incorporate daily objects, considering the symbolic and their metaphorical potential. By subverting normal uses of familiar objects, I aim to encourage viewers to reconsider their perspectives on normalcy and the cultural constructs that shape identity, emphasizing the value of observing the world with empathy and curiosity. And I also love to explore the duality of the materials, as they speak to the tension between stability and change, permanence and impermanence, which are recurring themes in my work.
Q10. Looking forward, are there any new themes or mediums you are excited to explore in your upcoming projects?
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As a storyteller at heart, I am drawn to the power of narrative storytelling as a means of conveying complex themes and emotions. I am passionate about the potential of art to bring people together and create meaningful dialogue and connection. I am thinking of exploring projects that involve community engagement and participation, inviting viewers to become co-creators of shared experiences.