A selection of work by lens-based artist and editor Jinyong Lian. Born in China, Lian completed her diploma at Beaux-Arts de Paris in 2024. Lian’s work explores the psychological tensions that emerge from personal realms and fictional worlds, using evocative imagery to examine their uncertainties. Her approach involves constructing scenes and gestures, using the body to create performative interactions or tableaus that she describes as “independent fables.” Each image functions as a metaphor for exploring the pressure and tensions that emerge in relationships. Lian’s work is also deeply influenced by the fair tale The Emperor’s New Clothes. In the story, it is a child who dares to point out the emperor’s nakedness:

“I see myself as that child—using my creative process as a declaration, calmly and humorously exposing the absurdities of contemporary life. Through playful yet metaphorical scenes, I strive to explore the psychological tension individuals experience when confronted by conflict or absurd situations. This exploration arises from my constant sense that our daily lives are permeated by invisible oppression and undefined dangers–often manifesting in interpersonal relationships and the tensions between individuals and societal structures. This sensation resonates closely with Freud’s concept of the ‘uncanny,’ a subtle and elusive unease that lingers beneath the surface of everyday life.”

As an Asian woman and sexual minority living in Europe, Lian is also profoundly influenced by her personal experiences. Confronted daily by gender norms and the pervasive alienation within society, she often examines female characters and the “scripts” that women come to understand to navigate the dilemmas they face.