Yiling Liu

About

Yiling Liu is a visual artist focused on social observation and feminist expression. She is currently pursuing an MA in Photography at the Royal College of Art (RCA) in the UK. Her work explores the intersections of traditional culture, sociopolitical structures, and women’s rights, aiming to investigate the tension between individual experiences and dominant societal narratives. With a background in Film and Television Directing, Liu’s practice is deeply rooted in storytelling and symbolism. She integrates cinematic techniques such as “slices of time” into her still photography, transforming static images into dynamic and emotionally charged visual spaces.

In recent years, Liu has concentrated on the complex relationship between medical technology, the politics of the female body, and institutional systems. Her graduation project centers on the topic of egg freezing in the Chinese context, where women’s reproductive autonomy is heavily influenced by patriarchal values and state policy. In her work, “freezing” is not only a biological process but also a metaphorical state, symbolizing the societal restrictions imposed on women’s bodies. Through layered visual metaphors and a restrained photographic language, she unpacks the hidden inequalities beneath scientific empowerment and calls for a deeper collective empathy and understanding of women’s lived experiences.

Liu’s visual practice resides at the intersection of documentary and conceptual photography. She uses imagery as both evidence and resistance—a way to engage, challenge, and ultimately expand the boundaries of visual storytelling.