张莹莹 Yingying Zhang

Yingying Zhang was born in China in 1999.

Her work focuses on self-exploration as a starting point and incorporates multiple perspectives on the body, gender, power, and technology.

Her work has been exhibited in Shanghai, London and Switzerland.

She is growing up and seeing herself…

My works are some pieces of unusual selfies.

I grew up in an environment that insisted on conforming to the expectations of society. During my university years, however, my views and beliefs underwent a major shift. The influence of Covid-19 and exposure to feminist ideas played a key role in this change. This prompted me to embark on a profound exploration of my own identity. I was obsessed with images and adept at using photography as a way of presenting my inner thoughts.

In this work, starting from self-examination, I attempt to explore the power relations manifested in the sense of submission that exists in me and the everyday realm that cultivated it. From the perspective of a woman who is awakening, I see this work as a form of exploration as well as resistance.

When I was growing up, obedient and understanding were always my labels.

I was like a robot doing what others thought was the right to do.

However, who I am and who I really want to be. I don’t know…

I lost myself and I accepted the rules and regulations imposed on me.

I try to build a bridge with myself through observation and memory

and photographs from my childhood.

The photo is when I was learning to walk. There was a wall with grid lines behind me, and it also was a reference point to see if I was making progress in my walk.

I was in a very symmetrical pose, surrounded by fake leaves. I followed the instructions and posed with my hands on my hat. They told me it was lovely.

It is a picture of me leaning against a pillar. My younger sister and I were asked to compare the height standing next to the pillar. She was as tall as me. I was taught that I should be taller as an elder sister.

The photo is when I went to Beijing, I was told In front of an office building that the only way to have a decent job in the future was to study hard.