Yun Ping

Photography

Mar 5

Written By WÜL Magazine

Photographer Madrid, Spain

Yun Ping, a photographer and artist based in Madrid, was born in Hubei, China, in 1998, and adopted at the age of two, growing up in the Basque Country. Initially studying audiovisuals, he later moved to Madrid at the age of 20 to pursue photography. His journey with the camera began in his early teenage years, capturing self-portraits and pictures of friends, which he shared on social media. Upon relocating to Madrid, Yun delved into processes of identity exploration, utilizing the camera to investigate and portray the array of emotions concealed within. His artistic focus centers around the self-representation of queer and BIPOC individuals.

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Currently immersed in a series titled 回家 (huí jiā), Yun explores the concept of "going back home," documenting his gender transition journey through self-portraiture. The series showcases the effects of treatments, the evolution of aesthetics, and personal growth while navigating his youth. Yun's work has been exhibited in various cities, including Madrid, Seville, Barcelona, Galicia, and Brazil, and featured in spaces like Matadero, sala Arte Joven, and the National Museum of Anthropology. Alongside his exhibitions, he conducts photography workshops for LGTBQ+ and BIPOC communities.

Blurring the boundaries between photography and performance, my work explores belonging to the human body and physical spaces. Cultivating my practice at home, the second safe space where I construct my primary sanctuary—my body, each image I capture portrays the inner workings of my being. Describing my photographs as profoundly vulnerable and raw, the atmosphere alternates between deliberate staging and spontaneous moments.

Inspired by classical authors and referencing Asian artists, my photography addresses the absence of representation of a body like mine, emphasizing the importance of self-portrayal. Delving into identity and psychological aspects, I navigate this process with gratitude, using self-portraiture as a tool for freedom, embodying different versions of myself. It's heartening to acknowledge that photography has been instrumental in shaping the person I am today.

In my work, I aim to communicate directly with the viewer, encouraging them to reflect on diverse themes such as the passage of time, change, emotions, self-knowledge, desire, sexuality, uprooting, and loneliness. As a Chinese-adopted trans man, my goal is to dismantle layers of identity by integrating my photographic practice with performances during exhibitions. The challenge evolves with each repetition, pushing performativity further. Exhibiting this intimate process brings the private into the public,

deepening its meaning through Site-Specific intervention. Immersing myself in the images, interacting, and creating a final photograph emphasizes the layers of identity. Viewing photography as a performative act, the process aspect becomes part of the work, forming the term "Self-portraiture performance." Inviting the public to participate blurs authorship lines, making them integral to the project. Emphasizing the viewer's importance in the work, it explores the influence of the external gaze in self-construction.