Kunlu Yao

In the context of Chinese society, the distribution of gender roles are unquestioned. I try to reveal the suffocating silence and lack of communication that prevalent in Chinese-style intimate relationships, as well as the seriously deformed and even pathological mode of getting along. As I explore love, partnership, and identity, MOMENT serves as a visual narrative and photography is like a silent, motionless documentary, capturing the truth and inviting reflection on gender inequality norms. Rather than being distracted by colours, I prefer to focus on the content of the work, which is why I choose most black and white photos.

I come from a Chinese background where traditional conventions of gender-assigned roles are unquestioned. The theme of this project, WIFE, began to highlight the inequality, silence, and lack of communication in Chinese marriages based on my observations. The project has captured the day-to-day intimacy of my own relationship and to challenge the expected gender roles according to Chinese cultural norms. I have chosen photography as the medium to convey this concept because photos record reality. Having black and white photos and making them one size helps to focus on the content of the work.