The Program in Visual Arts presents an exhibition of new work by Princeton senior Yuanyuan Zhao.
Elephant consists of photographs that are derived from poems, folktales, and myths. Populated by intimate family members, these photographs probe different aspects of East Asian identities. In many of her pieces, the subjects are Zhao’s family members and friends. Zhao notes that these subjects are not photographed to emphasize the relationship between the photographer and the photographed, but rather, use their own characters to develop and represent different social roles in their community. The show also features clashing details and combining different patterns. In doing so, Zhao juxtaposes the epic with the mundane world. Zhao explains that under the dramatic façade, which creates an immediate, externally perceived drama, these clashing details — or the elephant in Zhao’s world — aim to create an internal turbulence for viewers.
