Beyond Boundaries: Pixy Liao’s Visionary World

Brooklyn-based artist Pixy Liao has crafted a niche for herself with her evocative exploration of intimacy, gender dynamics, and the nuanced power plays within relationships. With an MFA in Photography from the University of Memphis, her work spans photographs, videos, and installations, each piece a testament to her unique perspective on contemporary issues.

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Liao’s art is a refreshing departure from the norm, challenging and redefining the conventional understanding of relationships, artist identity, and the female experience. A recipient of prestigious awards like the NYFA Fellowship in Photography and the Madame Figaro Women Photographers Award, her work invites viewers into her personal world and encourages them to question their own preconceptions. Her ongoing exhibition, “Opening,” at the L21 HOME gallery in Palma de Mallorca explores Liao’s imaginative world, where traditional gender roles are not just questioned but joyfully turned on their heads, offering a new lens through which to view intimacy and power dynamics.

DSCENE Magazine Editor Anastasija Pavic sits down with Liao to talk about the inspirations behind her thought-provoking art, the significance of her “For your eyes only” and “Experimental Relationship” series, and the intriguing intersection of reality and fantasy in her work. From the whimsical yet profound “Boobs cake” sculpture to her reflections on partnership and the balance between artistic freedom and ethical responsibility, Liao’s insights are as compelling as her art.

What inspired you to explore intimacy as a theme in your artworks? – I always think an ideal relationship is about two people being together as one unit, and they can do greater things together than when they are individuals. Intimacy for me is not only about giving comforts to each other, but also the greater power a couple could have together, the huge influence it has on individuals.

Can you elaborate on the concept of power dynamics in your “For your eyes only” photo series? – Compared to my “Experimental Relationship” project, “For your eyes only” project is not so much about the person in the photos, but more about the intimate views of daily scenes between closest persons. I want to make a project where the audience does not think too much about genders, relationships, and just only reacts to the colors, compositions and body parts in the photos. But at the same time, I maintain my personality while making these photos, subtle suggestions of little fun you could have in your daily life.

Intimacy for me is not only about giving comforts to each other, but also the greater power a couple could have together, the huge influence it has on individuals.

What interests you about blurring reality and fantasy? – That is the magic of photography. I use photos to recreate the image in my imaginations. But photography has a way to mix my imagination and reality. Sometimes it will show me the flaws in my imagination, that things are not what I expect them to be. I have learned many things from my photos so far. It’s a great teacher.

How does the sculpture “Boob cake” connect with the series of photographs exhibited at your solo show “Opening”? Additionally, what connections does it establish with the concept of gender bending? – The “Boobs Cake” is a sculpture of a cake that shapes like breasts, with fingers as its candles. And the fingers have tiny little hats, when you put the little hats on, the fingers turn into penis. Like the photos in “Opening”, (which mostly come out of the “For Your Eyes Only” project, are about body parts, geometric shapes and colors, ) the “Boobs Cake” is a 3d version of that, with an interactive adaptation to it that will furthermore blend the functions and meaning of the gendered body parts.

When I’m humored, I can reveal my true self.

What motivates you to challenge traditional notions of partnership? – That started from meeting Moro and starting a relationship that didn’t seem to be traditional or normal in other people’s or even my own eyes. But somehow I felt the relationship really fits the two of us. I wanted to explain that this relationship was really natural in the very beginning. And then it slowly became my notebook of my random ideas I think about intimate relationships. I feel that partnership shouldn’t be just one way, anyway it is possible. I don’t mean to direct people to have another type of partnership, only to show the other possibilities and let it be free.

Considering the current climate of heightened accountability and cancel culture, how do you interpret the relationship between ethical responsibilities and artistic freedom? – This is a very good question. I feel as an artist, my first priority is to be true to myself; in this way that I could maintain my artist freedom. But before that I need to meet my own ethical responsibilities. What I am doing meets my expectation of myself. The outside world always has its rules, and they are always changing. It’s not my goal to keep up with that. For my projects like “Experimental Relationship”, it’s more of a matter of the two of us. As long as we both agree, I wouldn’t care what the outside standards are.

I feel as an artist, my first priority is to be true to myself; in this way that I could maintain my artist freedom.

How do you handle the weight of the position that comes with photographing individuals in vulnerable situations? – The mutual agreement is the most important thing. After photographing Moro for years, I know his boundaries and taboos. Outside of that, I’m free to create what I want to make. Also I think the ones who show vulnerabilities are brave, they should be met with tenderness and care.

In your opinion, what role does humor play in interpreting and portraying love? – Humor makes me enjoy the process, keep the relationship light and happy. Many people think humor means not being serious. I, on the other hand, take humor very seriously. When I’m humored, I can reveal my true self.

Pixy Liao’s “Opening” exhibition is on see from March 23rd to May 31st at L21 HOME Gallery, Palma de Mallorca
Keep up with Pixy Liao on Instagram – @bloodypixy and L21 Gallery – @l21gallery