I am not myself

  • I am not myself I am not mayslef I is a photographic project by the artist Wang Xueya that emerged...

    I am not myself

     

     I am not mayslef I is a photographic project by the artist Wang Xueya that emerged as a profound meditation on identity, solitude, and space during the COVID-19 pandemic. In early 2020, as lockdowns confined people to their homes, Wang turned her lens inward, using her own body—with her face deliberately concealed—to construct a series of "private theaters" in domestic settings like bedrooms, kitchens, and living rooms. These images, devoid of facial expressions, rely solely on bodily posture and environmental context to convey themes of isolation and introspection.
     
    After the pandemic, Wang expanded the series into outdoor landscapes for I am not mayslef II, placing herself within natural vistas and historical sites. Here, her body language shifts from the constriction of enclosed spaces to a more expansive dialogue with history, nature, and the present. The work thus traces a journey from private confinement to public engagement, reflecting a universal struggle to locate oneself amid tensions between isolation and connection.
     
    The exhibition showcases both series, highlighting Wang's five-year artistic evolution. By sublimating personal experience into collective narrative, I am not mayslef resonates as a testament to the individual's search for authenticity in times of crisis.

     

    Artist：Wang Xueya

    Curator：Lahem

  • ARTIST: Wang Xueya Artist and documentary director, graduated from the advanced studies program of the China Academy of Art. Her...

    ARTIST: Wang Xueya

     

    Artist and documentary director, graduated from the advanced studies program of the China Academy of Art. Her creative practice primarily employs photography, video, and installation as key mediums, focusing on themes such as female identity and regional cultural shifts. Grounded in a female perspective, her work captures the spiritual landscapes of individuals and communities, blending documentary and conceptual approaches to form a unique visual narrative language. Her works have been exhibited at prestigious venues including Christie's Gallery in London, UK, PHOTOFAIRS Shanghai, the ArtNext Expo in Hong Kong, and the Three Shadows Photography Art Centre. Her artistic practice combines documentary depth with conceptual expression, continuously exploring themes of identity fluidity and humanistic narratives within a globalized context. Her photobook ShaoShao was awarded the "Photobook of the Year" at the 2019 IDPA Photobook Award.

  • CURATOR: Lahem Artist and curator, focusing on local photographic histories, case studies of individual photographers, and related publications. Studied at...

    CURATOR: Lahem

     

    Artist and curator, focusing on local photographic histories, case studies of individual photographers, and related publications. Studied at Fudan University and the China Academy of Art. Recipient of the 2023 Jimei × Arles Discovery Award, held a solo exhibition at the 2024 Rencontres d'Arles in France, and was nominated for the 2024 Prix Pictet. His published works include Reborn (Luofuping) and Sibei.

  • Wang xueya, I am not myself·Dream, 2024. cprint, 160 × 120 cm. Courtesy of the artist.
  • Wang xueya, I am not myself·Dream, 2024. cprint, 160 × 120 cm. Courtesy of the artist.
  • Wang xueya, I am not myself·Dream, 2024. cprint, 160 × 120 cm. Courtesy of the artist.
  • Wang xueya, I am not myself·Dream, 2024. cprint, 160 × 120 cm. Courtesy of the artist.
  • Wang xueya, I am not myself·Dream, 2024. cprint, 160 × 120 cm. Courtesy of the artist.
  • Wang xueya, I am not myself·Dream, 2024. cprint, 160 × 120 cm. Courtesy of the artist.